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 | Title : The Producers (2001 Original Broadway Cast)
Author : Mel Brooks
Release Date : 20010417
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $13.99
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Editorial Reviews :
The Producers was the vehicle that first proclaimed Mel Brooks's decidedly singular comic vision as a film director in 1968. At the time, the world may not have been entirely ready for the depth charges of hilarity he unleashed; but more than three decades later, it seemed almost foreordained that the film's retooling as a full-fledged musical--directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman--would become the smash hit of the 2000-2001 Broadway season (even before opening at the St. James Theatre in April). Brooks is, of course, no stranger to the Broadway musical genre or to songwriting, but skeptics might find themselves taken by surprise at just how outrageously well all the threads come together for the new show.
The film's absurd core vignette--the infamous 'Springtime for Hitler'--if anything gains a few notches in hilarity when framed by a character-rich musical that comes off as both parody and valentine in its mimicry of Broadway's 'golden age.' Brooks (with the help of idiomatically expert arrangements by Glen Kelly) has cooked up a variety of numbers constituting a virtual primer of old-fashioned American musical comedy styles (there's even a toying with Cabaret-style decadence), but they're always coated with an extra layer of zaniness. In fact, the whole show becomes a Chinese box of parodies within parodies. But what really gets the whole mix working is a surefire cast headed by Nathan Lane playing Max Bialystock and Matthew Broderick doing a delightfully nebbish turn with delusions of misplaced glory as his sidekick, Leo Bloom.
From his first big number (musically winking at Fiddler on the Roof), Lane hungrily lays claim to the role, undaunted by his formidable predecessor, Zero Mostel. Even on disc, you can visualize his over-the-top mugging as a dethroned 'king of Broadway' who was 'the first producer ever to do summer stock in the winter.' Comedy, as they say, is all about timing, and that's exactly what Lane gets right. His interactions with Bloom, Franz Liebkind (Brad Oscar), and Roger de Bris (Gary Beach) are priceless, even when only in sound. As for the tunes, Brooks crafts a number of truly memorable ones--don't be surprised to find yourself horrified as you hum along with 'Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop' and, of course, 'Springtime for Hitler.'
Buyer Reviews :
Even though I've never seen the 1969 movie (I'm still desperately combing through the video stores in town), The Producers is clearly a Mel Brooks creation from beginning to end. I've grown up on his movies, and when I heard that he created a MUSICAL, I became very excited.
What is there to say that hasn't been said? To quote Where Did We Go Right, 'It was shocking, outrageous, insulting...and I loved every minute of it!' Although I know I'll never see it live, having the cast album is enough for me.
I absolutely adore Matthew Broderick (even though he'll always be Ferris Bueller to me), and who knew he had such a great singing voice? Nathan Lane is an absolute genius as Max and definately earned his Tony (sorry Matthew, but Leo just isn't as juicy a role).
The supporting cast is so increadible that I wish all 3 male nominees could have won! Brad Oscar is HILLARIOUS as Franz Liebkind (Adolf Elizabeth Hitler?), Roger Bart is deliciously gay (meaning happy of course!) as Carmen Ghia, and Gary Beach steals the show durring all of his numbers as Roger DeBris with his visions of 'German soldiers marching through France, played by chorus boys in very tight pants.' I also have to give props to Cady Huffman's Ulla--her accent is delicious and her song is hillarious.
I adore all of the songs, but some that stand out are 'The King of Broadway,' 'I Wanna Be a Producer,' 'Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop,' 'Keep it Gay,' 'Along Came Bialy,' 'Where Did We Go Right,' 'Betrayed,' 'Til Him,' and, of course, 'Springtime for Hitler.' Keeping up with his tradition of having bit parts in all of his films, Mel Brooks does a delightful cameo as a stormtrooper who advises, 'Don't be stupid, be a smarty, come and join the Nazi Party!' And of course there's the flammingly gay Adolf Hitler who declares that he's the 'German Ethel Merman, doncha know?!'.
I'm just glad that I got this album durring the summer, because I suddenly find myself singing, 'the Fuhrer is causing a furor' and 'we're marching to a faster pace....look out, here comes the master race!' There's nothing more to say than The Producers is pure genius and anyone with $15 to burn HAS to buy this CD!
(by divastar79)
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