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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><A name=all></A><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Beck’s ‘The
Producers’ keeps it happy, snappy, gay<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Times </I>papers
7/22/10</SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">The
all-seeing eye that appears on the back of the dollar bill is the </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">universal symbol for
spiritual vision. The skull with crossbones on a bleach bottle is the universal
symbol for poison.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The universal
symbol for uproariously funny is Mel Brooks’ name in the production
credits.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">With his humor honed
in the late-night cocktail lounges of Borsch Belt hotels and on 1950s TV, Mr.
Brooks’ comic sensibility leans toward the sophomoric.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His material unapologetically exploits
stereotypes and is blatantly offensive, yet it is so obviously tied to a puerile
punch line you can see coming a mile away that it is rendered harmless and
hilarious upon impact.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
Producers</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">, currently in
production at the Beck Center for the Arts until August 22, is Mel Brooks’
biggest success.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It opened on
Broadway in 2001 as the staged musical comedy version of the 1968 film of the
same name and became its own film in 2005. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">With the book, music
and lyrics all written by Mr. Brooks, theater goers should heed the universal
symbol and proceed with caution.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>There’s laughter ahead at everyone’s expense.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The story revolves
around an unscrupulous Broadway producer and his naïve accomplice, who build
themselves a guaranteed flop—a musical called <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Springtime for Hitler</I> that features
goose stepping showgirls and lovable Nazis—so they can pocket their investors’
money.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Producer Max
Bialystock is the fallen King of Broadway, riding an endless stream of
monumental failures with manic desperation. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His counterpart, Leo Bloom, is a walking
anxiety attack with the dream of quitting accounting and becoming a Broadway
producer. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In the Beck Center
production, director Scott Spence captures all that is wonderfully irreverent in
this musical and wisely sticks close to the original production for
inspiration.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is hard to argue
with 12 Tony Awards.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The casting could not
be better.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In his portrayal of Max,
Mark Hefferman channels the manic tendencies of Zero Mostel from the first film,
owns the stage like Nathan Lane from the original Broadway production (and
second film), and adds his own comic flair to Max’s big and boisterous
personality.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He also brings a real
humanity to the role, which is an unexpected and welcome
addition.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Brandon Isner is
superb as Leo. Although he is tentative and a bit vanilla out of the gate, he
finds his character’s voice during the “I Wanna Be a Producer” number and never
turns back.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A delightful singer and
dancer, Mr. Isner proves himself to be Mr. Hefferman’s equal partner although
Leo does not become Max’s until the end of the play.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This number also
showcases Beck Center’s go-to-guy in heels, Zac Hudak, as the featured and least
attractive showgirl.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Supporting roles in
most Mel Brooks productions are little more than one-dimensional characters, but
they are all built for huge laughs in<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> The
Producers</I>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">As renowned
cross-dressing theater director Roger DeBris, Kevin Joseph Kelly doesn’t just
savor his moments on stage. He devours them and is nothing less than
remarkable.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The “Keep it Gay”
number, which presents Roger’s recommendation for staging the musical (and every
musical, for that matter), is a show-stopper.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It also highlights the talents of a very
strong ensemble.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Chris Richards as
DeBris’ common-law assistant, Carmen Ghia, matches Mr. Kelly’s flamboyance swish
for swish and is delightful.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Also
superb is the multi-talented Betsy Kahl as Bialystock and Bloom’s sexy Swedish
secretary, Ulla, and Gilgamesh Taggert as Franz Liebkind, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Springtime’s</I> fascist but fun loving
playwright.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The score in <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Producers</I>, much like the score in
Mr. Brooks’ other film-to-stage musical <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Young Frankenstein</I>, is quite
forgettable. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is, however, well
delivered by Larry Goodpaster and his orchestra, and nicely accompanies the much
more memorable production numbers.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Choreographer Mary
Ann Black and set designer Ben Needham demonstrate their skills in every
self-consciously lavish and intentionally overproduced number in this show, all
of which bare the indelible mark of the show’s original director/choreographer
Susan Stroman.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Less impressive or,
perhaps, given less attention are the first two musical numbers of the show,
“Opening Night” and “The King of Broadway.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mel Brooks’ humor
works because he happens to love what he lampoons.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is particularly evident in <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Producers</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The same can be said for the Beck Center
production of it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>