100 Musicals to See Before You Die (in no particular order)
22/100 - The Producers
We close on Broadway, take our two million, and go to Rio.
Everything Mel Brooks does is funny. Don’t argue with me on this, the man is a comedic genius. When you win a Grammy, Emmy, Oscar, AND a Tony, you can say whatever you like about Mel Brooks. Until then, sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up. Sorry for the rant.
The Producers was originally a great movie featuring Zero Mostel (Fiddler on the Roof OBC) and Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), and the original Broadway cast featured Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, who is quite possible my favorite Broadway actor. I don’t know what it is about that man, but I’m in love with him. I guess it’s his ability to portray an array of characters so well, to the point where you could almost forget that he’s the same actor who portrayed Ferris Bueller, with his sheer confidence and sex appeal (we all have crushes on Ferris, yes? I totally do), and the wily wit of Pierpont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. In The Producers, he’s Leo Bloom, this nervous wreck who’s never had any respect in his life and wouldn’t know what to do with himself if it weren’t for the drive of Max Bialystock, who is masterfully played by Nathan Lane with his similar ability to fully take on a character.
I’ve talked a lot about this specific pair because they also have a movie, which was based off the musical based off the original movie. It’s awesome because they were able to keep so much of the original Broadway cast for the film and that’s great for a movie musical. Everyone should watch both the Lane/Broderick and the Mostel/Wilder films. As for the musical itself, it’s amazing. Sometimes musicals sacrifice great music for a better storyline or vice versa, but that definitely isn’t the case with The Producers. It’s funny, it’s smart, it’s masterfully performed, and it’s just offensive enough to make you laugh without making you gasp in horror. Jews are allowed to make Hitler jokes, we’ve earned it goddammit.
Best Song: I would have to say it’s between I Wanna Be a Producer, which is just really well done and I love the effect the tap dancing has on the song, and Keep it Gay because have you listened to that song? Do so. Immediately.
