Stage West Calgary

Mel Brooks’ “The Producers”

Lee MacDougall/Timothy French

The Monday Morning “Somebody-Asked-Me-To, So-Here-I-Go” Review: Stage West Calgary’s production of Mel Brooks “The Producers”.

Sold out performances. Appreciative audiences. None of these are elements that Broadway producer Max Bialystock is enjoying, at the point of his career that opens this hit Broadway musical – winner of a record 12 Tony Awards when it ran in New York City. However, it sure was something that Stage West was enjoying Sunday evening, when we took in their latest production. The place was packed, and the laughter was incessant.

A zany lampoon of show business, desperation, and outright lunacy, The Producers features sing-a-long ditties such as “I Wanna Be A Producer”, “Keep It Gay”, and of course, the hallmark showstopper nugget “Springtime For Hitler”. It doesn’t take much detective work to presume that this outrageous piece from the unique comedic mind of Mel Brooks has more in common with Monthy Python’s “Spamalot”, than it does with “Guys & Dolls”…

Directed here in Calgary (after a run in Mississauga) by acclaimed director, playwright and screenwriter Lee MacDougall (High Life), and his partner Timothy French (who choreographed the original Toronto run, and actually met Mr. Brooks on opening night), this is a fast-paced run through schemes and wild dreams – I mean, how often does Hitler sing and dance in musicals??

Loaded with highlight performances, there’s always one scene-stealer – in this case, Sheldon Bergstrom as the (semi) closeted Nazi admirer, whose play aimed at “clearing the Fuehrer’s good name” is chosen by Max and his newfound partner Leo Bloom, to be a sure-fire flop. This gentleman absolutely embraces the wackiness of his role, and with rich robust vocals stands out – not an easy task when there are a number of capable actors handling roles that are manufactured to stay with you, after the curtain falls.

I had a chance to sit down with the director, and hopefully over the next week I'll have that interview available for my "Talking Theatre With" series - I'll post a link when that's ready.

“The Producers” runs until Sunday, June 13^th.