Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s flashy production of Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” is bold, brassy and irreverently over-the-top.
The hilariously outrageous musical comedy runs through June 29 on the Main Stage at DeSales University in Center Valley. The show boasts eye-popping visuals, laugh-out-loud performances and must-be-seen-to-be-believed production numbers.
“The Producers” tells the story of failing Broadway producer Max Bialystock and timid accountant Leo Bloom, as they attempt to stages the biggest flop on Broadway. The two men have come up with a scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a show designed to fail so they can embezzle the excess cash. The plan is to get the worst script and worst director for a surefire flop. But, of course, things don’t go as planned.
Scott Greer skillfully mines the comedic depths of the unscrupulous producer Max Bialystock who shamelessly beds rich old ladies to raise money for his productions in some of the funniest scenes. Greer throws himself completely into the larger-than-life character of Max in numbers like “The King of Old Broadway” and “Betrayed.”
Greer has great chemistry with Michael Doherty as the timid Leo Bloom that is particularly on display in their on-stage fight of “Where Did We Go Right?” and making up in “’Till Him.”
Doherty is a find as the squirrely Bloom. He is outstanding with his command of physical comedy from his expressive eyes to his nervous tics. It is great fun to watch the character slowly emerge from his shell as his confidence grows through out the show. Doherty is fantastic in “I Want to Be a Producer” when he first decides to shed his meek accountant persona.
Doherty also shares a delightfully hesitant chemistry with Nicole Benoit’s unforgettable blonde bombshell Ulla, particularly in the charming “That Face.”
Benoit is admittedly playing a caricature with the Swedish sex pot role of Ulla, but she makes the most of it and her Ulla is sweetly appealing, as well as stunning to look at. Benoit also is a very talented dancer as she demonstrates in the memorable “If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It.”
The show Bialystock and Bloom hope will be a flop is the neo-Nazi musical “Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp with Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden” written by pigeon-loving Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind, played with unabashed comic abandon by.Anthony Lawton.
Jamison Stern is outrageously funny as the flamboyant, though unsuccessful director Roger DeBris, especially his side-splitting number “Keep It Gay” backed by his outrageous entourage.
Robi Hager is engaging as a Judy Garland-esque Carmen Ghia.
The hard-working ensemble ingeniously fills the stage with dancing pigeon puppets, little old ladies doing routines with walkers, high-stepping stormtroopers and sequin-adorned showgirls.
Jennifer Childs’ direction is fast-paced and Tara Jeanne Vallee has created dynamic choreography.
Rebecca Callan’s lush, if ostentatious costumes provide plenty of glitz and glamour.
Scenic designer David Gordon enhances the show’s homage to the golden age of Broadway with colorfully lighted frames that multi task.
A live orchestra ably backs the singers.
The production is recommended for age 13 and older for mature themes, suggestive humor, and adult language.
Meet the actors after the show for a talk-back June 19 and 26.
The June 21 performance will feature open captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing and audio descriptions for patrons who are blind or visually impaired.
Tickets are $50-$71 for adults, $45-$66 for seniors and $44-$65 for students.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. June 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. June 14, 18, and 28; 2 p.m. June 15, 21. 22 and 29; and 6:30 p.m. June 17 and 24 at Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley.
For information, call 610-282-9455, or go to pashakespeare.org/.