The Producers in Toronto -- my review

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 6/29/04 at 1:50am

I finally got to see The Producers -- I had wanted to see it ever since it arrived with a bang on Broadway. I was extremely excited about its Toronto engagement, but bad luck and circumstances prevented me from finally going until last Sunday, a week before the production closes on July 4th.

And my thoughts on the show? I was, frankly and surprisingly, disappointed. I liked it, but I didn't love it. There was a long thread awhile back about whether The Producers deserved those twelve Tonys; my opinion is now clear that it did not.

A show that wins a slew of awards - particularly a record number of awards - should really have a golden, close-to-perfect quality that the best shows have. I never got to see the show with with the star power and chemistry of Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, so I was allowed to focus on the actual production, and I found The Producers a very flawed work.

The pacing is extremely askew. There were a lot of times when The Producers seems to stop dead, either by bad rhythm, a run-on gag that should have stopped, or a superfluous scene that adds nothing. The show doesn't really get rolling until Bialystock finds the script for Springtime For Hitler; before that, the show is painfully slow and not all that funny. The audience certainly felt the same, as they were practically silent until then. Even the famous scene where Bloom first enters into Bialystock's office and they come up with their scheme - a scene which is so memorable from the movie - falls flat and weighed down by exposition.

The show's milk and honey comes in its politically-incorrect middle chunk, from Springtime For Hitler's discovery to its performance. The Producers shines fabulously and is a delicious riot in this portion, but afterwards the show goes back to its odd pacing. The final third of the show feels rushed and arbitrary -- Bialystock's trial and their parole from jail aren't particularly interesting, funny, touching or believable.

Mel Brook's humour sometimes worked, sometimes didn't. If it wasn't for the sexual jokes and equal-opportunity jabbing, the book would be pretty weak, full of of old, predictable laughs. Many of the jokes were of the Saturday Night Live variety and were occasionally tedious, run-on gags that didn't register with the audience at all. The score was reminiscent of golden-era Broadway, except excessively repetitive here. Songs make too many reprises; 'We Can Do It' was reprised four times, I believe, and a lot of the other songs seemed recycled throughout the performance.

I did admire the production design (I loved the mirror during Springtime; it was like an unholy marriage between Cabaret and 42nd Street) and the irreverence of the show. It was an enjoyable time at the theatre, but hardly the breathtaking classic that the hype had made it out to be.

The Toronto cast is, by-and-large, fantastic. Michael Therriault (as Bloom) is particularly remarkable; he has the right innocent charm and wide-eyed boyishness that makes him really likeable onstage, and a sweet voice to boot. However, Sean Collen is only adequate as Bialystock. I feel sorry for Collen, who has been singled out by critics as the main detriment to the Toronto production, but I can't help but feel they could have found someone better for the role. He lacks the larger-than-life charisma and stage presence that the role requires. To me, Bialystock should dominate the stage, but instead Collen just inhabits it uncomfortably.

I can also understand why Toronto hasn't taken to the show. Some have said it's because the show is too New-Yorkish; somewhat true, but only to a certain extent. Some have said audiences were offended by the un-PC jokes -- completely untrue, considering what Canadian's love of satire (just turn on CBC to realize this) and light-hearted skewering. Observing the audience, it seemed they liked these jokes most.

Instead, it was the older-style humour that was yawned at by the audience. The Producers is very much an old-style musical, an homage to the Broadway of the 1940s and 50s, a type of show I don't think Toronto audiences enjoy very much. The city certainly doesn't have a history of them -- audiences here enjoy the more British-megamusical-esque shows than the golden-era fare. The Producers seems to be harking back to a theatrical tradition that Toronto just doesn't share.

So those are my two cents on The Producers: a good show, but not groundbreaking or the best thing since sliced bread.

Updated On: 6/29/04 at 01:50 AM

[SamIAm]

Posted: 6/29/04 at 7:23am

I saw your review over on ATC and thought I'd come here to answer you since the ATC crowd seem to be spewing venom lately. :)

Some of the thoughts you present echo ideas that I had posted a month or so ago when they announced the closing in Toronto that a)the show was not Toronto type fare and b) the leads were not great.

It sounds like that is true. I would say that the timing and jokes falling short may just be a function of the cast as well. I am sorry you didn't get to see it in NYC with a great cast and timing that was impeccable. It was a joy. The music, comedy and book worked well there.

I do not really think of The Producers as an old fashioned musical (to me, that would be My Fair Lady or Camelot or something) but rather a throwback to burlesque and vaudeville where Brooks' roots are. It is VERY New York in some of its references too and though I think some of the book may have been changed for the road shows, this may hurt the piece.

In any event, I just wanted to thank you for the post. This is a show that should NOT have to depend on stars to succeed but, unfortunately, the number of people who can fill the stage in the Max role, is very limited and so evey respected stage actors like Lewis Standlen have been getting some poor reviews. The triple threat actor that is larger than life is in short supply!

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 6/29/04 at 11:34am

Michael Therriault (as Bloom) is particularly remarkable; he has the right innocent charm and wide-eyed boyishness that makes him really likeable onstage, and a sweet voice to boot. However, Sean Collen is only adequate as Bialystock.
I couldn't agree more! Michael Therriault is a Stratford veteran, and quite possibly the most talented actor I have seen on a Canadian stage. He fits the role of Bloom perfectly and I find it hard to picture anyone else portraying him so well.
I saw Sean Cullen and his understudy both play Bialystock (but I can't for the life of me remember the name of the understudy- how sad....Steve Ross maybe? No that's not it...). The understudy blew me away in the first performance. When I saw Sean Cullen, I kept thinking "I want the other guy to come back".
I as well enjoyed the Producers in Toronto, but I didn't find it to be anything special. I enjoyed it on the same level as I enjoyed some touring cast of Oliver at the Pantages.... entertaining, but not memorable.
Rest in peace, Toronto Producers!

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 6/29/04 at 1:29pm

I would say that the timing and jokes falling short may just be a function of the cast as well. I am sorry you didn't get to see it in NYC with a great cast and timing that was impeccable. It was a joy. The music, comedy and book worked well there.

That's great to hear. I found that so much of the show depended on good comic timing and the stage charisma of the leads, that if those two elements aren't in place, the show falls flat. I would have loved to see Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick do it: I know a lot of people have defended the show, saying you don't need those two star leads to enjoy it, but I can't help but feel that Bialystock and Bloom were revised and reworked to custom-fit those performers. Particularly Nathan Lane -- listening to Cullen say his lines, I imagined that they would sound more comfortable - more at home - coming from Lane. I guess that's the problem when you have a character almost specifically written for a particular actor.

In any event, I just wanted to thank you for the post.

You're welcome!

I couldn't agree more! Michael Therriault is a Stratford veteran, and quite possibly the most talented actor I have seen on a Canadian stage. He fits the role of Bloom perfectly and I find it hard to picture anyone else portraying him so well.

Yes, he felt most natural on the stage (besides the actress who played Ulla - she was also fantastic!). A friend of mine who loves Stratford has also pointed out what a great actor he is. I can't wait to see him in his next show.

Updated On: 6/29/04 at 01:29 PM

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/29/04 at 4:03pm

I reviewed this show as well whenI saw it & agree w u about a lot. Interesting That both Micheal(Leo) & Juan(Roger) both won Dora's as did the Mirvishes for bringing it in. I think u really DO need a Mostel or a Lane to really put this over. A friend also pointed ou the old "Can u really remember any of the songs" as a sign of how mediocre the musica was. Still ,I enjoyed it (ESP the girl who played Ulla!!) but in the end OK was just not good enough for this kinda $$!