‘The Producers’: A Sensationally Satirical Musical That Sends Up Showbiz

Very much unlike the fictitious theatre flop that its main characters are trying to create, Hayes Theatre Co’s production of Mel Brooks’ The Producers is an utterly sensational night of musical theatre that entertains and impresses in equal measure.

Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Anton Berezin) is at an all time low after his musical version of Hamlet becomes a massive flop. The very next day, the meek accountant Leopold Bloom (Des Flanagan) comes for an audit and proclaims that a producer could actually make more from a flop than a hit.

Thus a devious scheme is accidentally born between Max and Leo to intentionally put on the worst musical possible and pocket the funds raised. They soon produce Springtime for Hitler, a musical written by former the Nazi Franz Liebkind (Jordan Shea), directed by failing artiste Roger De Bris (Blake Erickson) and starring Max and Leo’s recently hired Swedish secretary Ulla (Alexandra Cashmere). What could go right?

The Producers feels surprisingly timeless

With Brooks’ book being based on his 1967 film of the same name, The Producers has a distinctly classic feel to it. The glitz, glam and greed of 50s Broadway is realised with remarkable efficiency in the relatively small performance space of the Hayes, constantly changing size thanks to incredibly considered usage of shifting set walls from director Julia Robertson and set/props designer Nick Fry.

In spite of that feeling, the humour of The Producers feels rather timeless in this production thanks to the tongue it plants firmly in its cheek throughout the show, giving the script a distinct meta aspect. The satire of the show takes aim most prominently at Nazism, openly mocking Hitler and the aesthetics of fascism.

It’s unfortunate that the need to lambast Nazi imagery has become more relevant since the stage show’s debut on Broadway in 2001. Alas, The Producers does so to great comedic effect, with the theatre regularly erupting with laughter on opening night.

The Producers’ excellent cast

No small part of the humour is derived from the excellent cast, anchored by Anton Berezin and Des Flanagan as Max and Leo. These two have been cast perfectly, effortlessly bouncing off one another with their characters’ vastly different personalities.

Berezin is a constant delight as the quick-talking, money-hungry Max as he exerts his bad influence over Flanagan’s Leo, who changes the most throughout the show. Their relationship’s transition from convenient business partners to genuine friends is the heart of The Producers, and these two remarkably talented performers make sure that it beats loudly.

These two are joined by a remarkable cast of supporting performers who help make The Producers a wickedly funny show, while also providing some necessary updates for the show’s characters. One of my favourite performances came from Jordan Shea as Franz Liebkind, who is remarkably efficient at making his Nazi character look like a huge loser while providing some of the show’s biggest laughs.

A show with wicked humour and expert craft

The character of Ulla is quite apparently one of the most outdated characters in the show, and you can clearly see her written as the embodiment of the ‘scintillating Scandinavian girl’ trope. But thanks to Alexandra Cashmere’s incredibly committed performance that makes Ulla seem utterly bizarre, the comedy instead comes from how ridiculous it is that this is how women in musicals were ever written.

Blake Erickson is stellar as the outwardly campy Roger De Bris, who’s convinced to direct Springtime for Hitler with the promise of a Tony Award, while Mikey Sakinofsky is absolutely hysterical as his partner Carmen Ghia. The humour of these characters is shifted away from their inherent queerness to their squabbles and Roger’s artistic taste, and feels like a necessarily fresh coat of paint for the show.

If you know anything about The Producers, you’ll be aware that its biggest number rests on the shoulders of Erickson and the equally phenomenal ensemble. Rest easy knowing that Erickson and the rest of the cast make sure that his iconic number brings the house down, with the help of an incredible band conducted by Osibi Akerejola.

With its wicked sense of humour and remarkable sense of craft, The Producers at the Hayes Theatre is a sensationally satirical show that shoots for the stars and lands among them. Though it’s a musical with both reverence and revulsion for showbiz, it’s still a production that makes it easy to remember just how entertaining great theatre can be.

The Producers’ current season at Hayes Theatre Co is completely sold out. However, it’ll be coming to Riverside Theatres in Parramatta from May 15th to 18th; book tickets here.