Magic's "Producers" tour review:)

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 4:39pm

So I just returned from the 1pm show of The Producers, the national tour starring Lewis J. Stadlen and Alan Ruck at the Wharton Center in East Lansing, Michigan - home of Michigan State University (where yours truly recently graduated...like recent as in YESTERDAY!) Let me say that I have had the recording of The Producers for about two years, but haven't ever really listened to it outside of Nathan's "Betrayed" and Matthew's "I wanna be a Producer," so I was by no means an expert on the show.

I loved it. LOVED it, LOVED it, LOVED it.

I am a huge advocate/fan of understudies, and when the board outside the theatre said that "The Role of Max Bialystock will be played by Michael McCormick," "The Role of Leo Bloom will be played by Patrick Boyd," and "The Role of Franz Liebkind will be played by Michael Goddard," I was one of the few who was excited. Having witnessed amazing performances by understudies in national tours many times before (Laura Shoop on as Miss Dorothy in the Millie tour is most notable), I was looking forward to seeing the energy of the show get shaken up a little. The rest of the crowd, most notably the obnoxious theatre-geeks who sat beside me, were not as thrilled. I mean theatre-geek with no offense. I, myself, am a theatre geek, but you all know exactly the people I'm talking about, the ones who actually say things like "Oh, I don't want to see Movin' Out. It only won two Tonys!" and who insist on singing - as though there is some random casting agent around them who is going to discover them right then and there.....Anyway, sorry to rant, they were REALLY REALLY obnoxious.

But once the show started, all understudy worries were forgiven.

The show was amazing, and the cast - though not all regulars - was top notch:) Michael McCormick (who has been Thenardier in Les Mis on tour, and was on B'way in Gypsy, Kiss me Kate, 1776 and Marie Christine among others, and who usually plays Franz) was magnificent as Max. From where I was sitting, he looked and sounded exactly like Nathan Lane. Patrick Boyd as Leo Bloom sounded an awful lot like Matthew Broderick, but was an astoundingly good physical comedian (never seen Matthew live in a musical, can't judge:) Together, they were absolutely flawless. Lee Roy Reams and Harry Bouvy as Roger DeBris and Carmem Ghia were over the top and had the audience in stitches the whole time. On as Franz, Michael Goddard (With the aid of some pigeons, those who've seen the show know what I mean) nearly stole the show during his "Guten Tag Hop Hop" routine. Last but not least, the lovely Charley Izabella King as Ulla was dynamite.

Highlights of the show were, of course, the actual performance of "Springtime for Hitler" (And most notably the giant dancing swastika, which is something I would have never thought I would be applauding and cheering), the "Along Came Bialy" routine featuring bouncing and dancing little old ladies, and the "Betrayed" number, sung by McCormick as if he played Max every day of his life. I would love to be able to see what he does with his usual role, Franz Liebkind.

All in all, outstanding show. I highly reccomend the national tour of The Producers to everyone. My Dad, who went with me (and who is a surprising convert to musicals) loved it and laughed all the way through. And he and I are both massive fans of the movie:)

I give mad props to the entire cast and creative team, and now I'm stoked for Young Frankenstein.

Bye!:)
MagicToDo82

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 4:57pm

I saw the tour back in late June, when it was in Washinton D.C. Love, love, loved it. I can't wait until it comes to Boston...aaagh, I don't want to wait until February.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 4:59pm

I wish I could see the show when it is in Cleveland in January.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:02pm

I saw Lewis Stadlen as Max in New York, and let me tell you that you were lucky that he was out.

Don't get me wrong, I think he's great, but he was just terrible as Max when I saw him.

[MatureDignity]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 5:17pm

When the tour came to my town, I saw Patrick Boyd and Michael McCormick go on as Leo and Max, too! I agree with your sentiments; they had great chemistry and I was particularily taken with Patrick (beautiful voice, great dancer).

Also saw Michael as Franz. He was awesome.

I really enjoyed the touring cast, they softened my feelings about the show (wasn't a big fan).

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 8:55pm

I understand that. I never really had an interest in the show until it was announced it was coming to my area, then I figured I should go and see what I think of it, rather than what critics and fans say about it. I have really enjoyed having the Wharton Center on my college campus..I've seen some great shows there...Les Mis, Phantom, Blast, Millie, Oklahoma, Tick Tick Boom, and now I can definitely add Producers...and in February Movin' Out:)

BIG fan of Michael McCormick and Patrick Boyd:) I bet Michael was an amazing Franz. Almost went back this evening to see if I could catch him in the role. Decided against it:)

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 8:59pm

I was chatting with Barry Pearl, who's a swing in the show, and he says the powers that be have cut the tour short because of the rush to make the movie. That's a shame! At least Alan Ruck, the love of my life, is still coming to Broadway.

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:00pm

Cut it short? It'd better be coming to Boston. I will kill someone if it doesn't come to Boston.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:02pm

He said they'd canceled the Boston portion. I'm sorry!

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:02pm

...

*goes and gets knife*

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:05pm

Barry Pearl, who was "Doody" in the movie of Grease! YES! I saw his bio in the program and was amazed. Then, checking it out, I noticed he also understudies Max, Franz, and Roger. I would have paid good money to see him as Roger DeBris. I completely forgot to mention that in my review.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:05pm

Ooo... priest, I totally agree with you. Lewis Stadlen just irritated me. I can't really say why, I just didn't like him in this role at all...

[MatureDignity]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:07pm

His voice (Stadlen's) got on my nerves... and he seemed kinda bored.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:08pm

Well I have tickets to the Friday night show of the tour, in lovely Rochester, NY. Are Stadlen and Ruck out for something scheduled? It sounds like I shouldn't worry about it though.

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:08pm

He kept fluctuating between the gravelly voice and the operatic voice. It was confusing. I couldn't make out the words.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:09pm

Barry went on as Franz for the first time on Tuesday :) He said it was a lot of fun.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:10pm

Stadlen's 'King of Broadway' was the most lackluster Opening number I've seen. No energy at all.

(Okay, so 'Opening Night' is technically the opening number, but still)

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:11pm

ckeaton, based on today, if I were you I wouldn't worry at all. I couldn't have asked for a better cast:)

and yay for Barry Pearl! Though Im sad, you said he went on the 7th as Franz:) That was opening night here in East Lansing, and I missed it....dang!

[MatureDignity]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:19pm

Shbrt-- do you know if Barry Pearl ever plays the roles of Mr. Marx and one of the Hitlers from the audition scene? His name is familiar, I think I may have saw him. If so, he was very funny...

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 12/12/04 at 9:20pm

I really have no idea. Maybe check his bio or his website? http://www.barrypearl.com

We just started chatting on AOL (we discovered we have a mutual friend), so I'll ask him next time I talk to him.