On Stage: The Producers (2011)

I will readily admit I've never seen either feature film version of Mel Brooks' comedy classic, "The Producers", nor did I venture to Broadway for the revival a decade ago with Matthew Broderick & Nathan Lane. However, the staff at my day job ventured to the Park Playhouse at Washington Park in Albany to see a local production of "The Producers" Wednesday night, and I have to say, I was impressed.

The concept is very simple. Max Bialystock (Jason Marks) has produced one bomb after another, and his latest, "Funny Boy", closed in just one night. Enter a neurotic accountant, one Leopold Bloom (Jason Jacoby), who finds there is a way to turn a profit even with a loser. Inspired, Bialystock takes Bloom in as his partner and they find what they think is the absolute worst play available, "Springtime for Hitler".

The pieces soon fall into place. Bialystock & Bloom obtain the rights from its author, who also is recruited to be in the show. They hire a swishy director whose track record is almost as bad as Bialystock's. A naive Swedish girl comes in for an audition, and is hired to also serve as the team's secretary/receptionist/office housekeeper. Max then raises money the only way he knows how, by working the old ladies in the neighborhood.

Opening night comes, and Franz, the author cast as Hitler, suffers a broken leg, and has to be replaced by the director at the very last second. In effect, it's the last piece of the puzzle, as "Springtime" is a surprise hit, the worst case scenario for Bialystock & Bloom.

The sudden success lands the producers in prison, only to be pardoned by the governor after a prison play becomes another smash and lands on Broadway, cementing Bialystock's comeback.

Jason Marks is just fantastic as Bialystock. Referring back to the original film with Zero Mostel & Gene Wilder 43 years ago, I can imagine that Mel Brooks might have initially had Jackie Gleason in mind to play Bialystock, because the character fits in with Gleason's seminal TV persona of Ralph Kramden (The Honeymooners). That doesn't mean that Art Carney could've been Bloom. That part, given the fact Bloom is a neurotic, could've been handled by the underappreciated Wally Cox (Hollywood Squares), who was doing a lot of guest-star gigs on TV back in the late 60's. Brooks caught lightning in a bottle twice. Park Playhouse may have found it the 3rd time, because the cast assembled hit all the right notes. Maura Hogan nearly steals the show as Ulla, the Swedish hottie who eventually wins Leo's heart.

Not including intermission, the play clocks in at 2:25. Rating: A-.