Comments on The Producers

[mmFan]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 8:49am

I'm curious what people think of The Producers? I saw it in Toronto. Now I realize that it's not fair since I'm a HUGE Mamma Mia fan (i.e. nothing can compare). I enjoyed it and the acting was great, but my one negative comment is that I didn't walk out singing the songs (and probably won't' buy the cd). Just curious on others thoughts. (I heard that it sold out and made tons of $$$ when Mathew Broderick and Nathane Lane returned to NY).

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 9:23am

I guess it depends on what you want to get out of the experience. If you measure the success of a musical by whether or not you are singing the songs as you leave, then that's your thing. But to be fair, Mamma Mia!'s a jukebox show that you walk into the theater singing the songs because you know them already. So maybe that scale isn't accurate to begin with.

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 9:42am

You're just much more in tune with the feel good style of Mamma Mia. I'd just chalk it up to "different strokes for different folks". Both Mamma Mia and The Producers are both popularly successful and highly enjoyable. However, The Producers has the wide critical acclaim to back up it's success. As they sing in The Producers, it's about, "Tony, Tony, Tony".

My experience has been completely the opposite of yours. I have seen Mamma Mia, happily tapped my feet, and never have had any interest in returning again.

While The Producers has been a long term semi-obsession for me. I've seen it 9 times in New York, Los Angeles, and on Tour. The Producers just lifts my spirits and makes me laugh!

Since you're a fan of Mamma Mia, I hope you have the chance to see Hairspray. You'll most likely enjoy it also.

Updated On: 1/8/04 at 09:42 AM

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 9:44am

I didn't like 'Mamma Mia' or 'The Producers.'

I'd rather see a good Abba cover band (like Bjorn Again) and I'd rather watch the movie version of 'The Producers.'

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 9:48am

I like both shows but the Producers is in a class by itself.
Why? GARY BEACH.
BEACH- Makes the show and the grannies.
I love it. I have only seen it once but want to return asap.

[sheekala]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 10:09am

Having the chance to see a wonderful performance by an honest to goodness larger than life old school type Broadway performer in Nathan Lane makes the current TP hard to resist, without such bold energy the show is less than thrilling. That being said I do enjoy it, and the Toronto production is one of the better mountings of it, I've been less than happy with the Tours and found the pairing of Applegate/Stephonson to be nearly unwatchable. Mamma Mia is a crowd favorite, but less a pure theatrical animal IMHO, as Namo said it truly is a "jukebox" show and gives you that kind of shallow feeling.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 10:14am

Theatre is too subjective for comparisons like this. Namo is essentially right in his post, the scale isn't just off... it's incalculable.

I saw the original cast of the Producers in NYC and I really belive that they were an excellent, talented group of people. I just have trouble with the hype that the show itself has received. It is not the best show I have ever seen BY FAR. It is a good show. Yes, I would see it again, but I would not go out of my way.

I think the show has proven itself as a great vehicle for two stars, and little more than a one time curiosity without.

[mmFan]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 12:24pm

Dont' get me wrong...I truely enjoyed The Producers. It was funny, well written, had a great set and had great acting (Toronto's production..I never saw NY's production). My point is that the music doesn't captivate you...When I walked out of shows such as Mamma Mia, Phantom, Les Miserable and Rent, I ran out and bought the cd and the piano music. Likewise, I probably won't see The Producers again whereas I've seen Mamma Mia 7 times, Rent 3 times and Les Mis 2 times. It was still enjoyable though and was glad that I went. I was just curious on other views.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 12:33pm

I tend to think that scores that thrive on the sort of emotional melodramas that 'Les Mis' and 'Rent' thrive on are the scores people like to listen to the most at home as they can relate those scores to their lives more. Something like 'The Producers' which only services a light story and doesn't have that sort of potential for personal resonance, isn't going to generate the need for constant listens.

It's my theory, anyway.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 12:42pm

I also found the score to The Producers to be unmemorable. And I enjoy those old song-and-dance scores quite a bit (Crazy For You, Anything Goes, 42nd Street). Absolutely nothing in The Producers made me smile or tap my feet. I tried it about 3 times and finally gave up.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 12:47pm

Honestly, "The Producers" score did not particularly turn me on either. It's a comical show, but I think if I was middle-aged (and mean that with all respect) I would have liked it a lot more. I personally think it appeals to an older audience. Although, I do love Nathan Lane, in general. He is an almond joy. Hear that, Mr. Lane?

Updated On: 1/7/04 at 12:47 PM

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 1:25pm

Being a Comedy Musical (as oppposed to a Musical Comedy) the score to THE PRODUCERS is its weakest aspect. It serves the unusually strong and elegantly simple story well though, without breaking through to a tunefully inspired level. I agree with the posters who feel it's not quite the musical it should have been. If Jerry Herman had supplied the melodies (as initial investor David Geffin wanted), it might have been otherwise.

Updated On: 1/7/04 at 01:25 PM

[Lorelai]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 1:36pm

I think I'd have to choose The Producers over Mamma Mia...

But actually, the first time I did see The Producers I really didn't see what the big deal was (this was with Nathan and Matthew). I'm not usually into shows that are all about hype....in fact, that's enough to turn me off to a show. But I went to see The Producers anyway. The second time it started to grow on me and I got the CD. I guess it just all depends on your taste.
My favorite show ever has to be The Last 5 Years, which was at a tiny theater and when I saw it soon after it started, the audience was nowhere near full. The hype was nonexistent. In fact I don't remember it ever being full until maybe the last few times I saw it and of course on the last day. And the show seems to be bigger now that it's closed than when it was open.

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 2:00pm

If I had to choose one it would be Producers which I didn't like very much.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 3:37pm

If given a choice, I'd pick Mamma Mia.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 3:47pm

I'd go to a movie.

[rclocalz]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 4:15pm

Okay guys my thing is that when I bought the Mamma Mia CD, it is like the worst cast album I own. The orchestrations are aweful with those dreaded synthesizers(sp?) and those London accents are just annoying. Now the Producers CD is a good CD with great orchestrations and performances and all that crap, but the tunes just don't make you want to hit the replay button. There's my two cents for ya.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 4:18pm

Is 'Mamma Mia' 'like' the worst cast album you own or is it 'actually' the worst cast album you own.

Because if its just 'like' the worst cast album you own, I'm curious what the 'actual' worst cast album you own is.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 4:23pm

I personally think that the Mamma Mia CD is an 'acquired taste.' Many people either love it or loathe it.

I'm personally in the middle. I'm not a big fan of the voices, but I still listen to the recording often. My friend HATES it though...I guess she's just so stuck on the Broadway cast.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 5:15pm

rclocalz - How can you perform vintage Abba as a pop score without synthesizers? It would be like Tommy without electric guitars. That is what Abba is. The annoying London accents are a result of the original London cast. What did you think you were buying? I would prefer to have a Broadway cast recording, but it doesn't exist. Still, I like my OLC recording because I saw the original cast in London shortly after it opened and it reminds me of the whole experience.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 5:58pm

It's a shame they never did an OBC recording. I blame Louise for not demanding one!

[mmFan]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 7:11pm

I wish too that they recorded the broadway version of Mamma Mia. The previous cast (with Louise Pitre and David Keeley) was amazing! (I haven't seen the current cast so I can't comment on them).

[rclocalz]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 7:21pm

Okay guys, first of all to JohnPopa: I guess you got a good laugh out of your cleverness on your analysis of my post, actually the worst cast album in my collection is Titanic.

As for Mister Matt: when I bought the CD, I thought that it was a OBC because DECCA likes to trick people by putting on the cover "A Decca [Broadway] Original Cast Album". After hearing the accents, I realised it was the London cast. I didn't do my homework to find out if there was even an OBC, I just assumed so. Now I know better. Also about the orchestrations: I didn't buy the CD to hear ABBA's interpretation of ABBA songs, I wanted to hear a theatrical interpretation of ABBA's songs, sort of like what Moulin Rouge did with the songs they picked, but I guess that was a stupid idea on my behalf.

Updated On: 1/7/04 at 07:21 PM

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 8:13pm

I will just say my experiences on both shows.
I saw The Producers early December on Broadway, unfortunately with the leads before Nathan and Matthew. I found it to be just OK but could not understand why is everyone crazy about it. I found the actor playing Leo ( Stephenson) annoying and the whole experience was worsened by sitting behind the biggest a**hole I've seen in my life in a theater audience. A guy who was moving his head side to side FOR THE WHOLE SHOW !!!! So, the whole experience was not a very pleasant one. One the other hand I saw Mamma Mia in London on Summer 2001 with my best friend and it was one of the most pleasurable and fun evenings we had in our life (I have to add though, that we are both big ABBA fans)

Take care Updated On: 1/7/04 at 08:13 PM

[theatreguy]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 8:15pm

I didn't buy the CD to hear ABBA's interpretation of ABBA songs, I wanted to hear a theatrical interpretation of ABBA's songs, sort of like what Moulin Rouge did with the songs they picked, but I guess that was a stupid idea on my behalf.

But the only reason the show exists and is popular is because it uses ABBA music. If you didn't use synthesizers, etc and opted for a traditional Broadway orchestra (6 strings, 5 reeds, a few horns and trumpets) it would not only sound weird, it wouldn't really be ABBA. What exactly is your idea of a "theatrical interpretation of ABBA's songs"? Updated On: 1/7/04 at 08:15 PM