The Producers comes to Birr
Gay Adolf Hitler, sex-crazed grannies, Nazi war criminals, accounting fraud, ditsy Swedish bombshells and overall questionable ethics. What does this mean? It means Birr Stage Guild’s latest production is Mel Brooks’ controversial musical The Producers, which kicks off tonight Thursday, February 1.
When The Producers made its on-screen debut in 1968, it was met with outrage from several quarters; the idea of Hitler as a comic figure just twenty three years after the end of World War II infuriated many; while the public parade of homosexuality and twisting the modesty of ‘little old ladies’ was initially described by the New York Times as ‘shoddy, gross and cruel.’ Then again, no less than Vanity Fair magazine wrote ‘It's a classic example of how a movie can be great without, strictly speaking, being good. But when something is this funny, who wants to speak strictly!?’
This weekend Birr Stage Guild will perform their own production of Mel Brooks’ satire and will aim to satisfy the claim that it is one of the funniest musicals ever written.
Birr Stage Guild have been working on this project since last October and chairperson Adrian Sheils has said: “It’s a very challenging show to do, the set, the props, the costumes and even the casting is tricky – the parts of Max and Leo have buckets of dialogue and that’s not even mentioning the music!”
The leading parts of Max and Leo are being played by Dickie Donnelly and Patrick Byrne respectively and along with the thirty-eight strong cast have been rehearsing frantically.
The Producers tells the story of diminishing Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Donnelly) who along with his accountant Leo Bloom (Byrne), figure out that they could make far more money with a flop of a show than with a hit. If their ethics weren’t questionable enough they hire Ulla (Shanna Kenny), a Swedish blonde with little English to be the secretary of their operation.
With the genius script writing of Mel Brooks there are many twists and turns to this tale. The satirical nature of the humour means no-one is safe; especially with Max Bialystock himself declaring it is ‘sure to offend people of all colours, races, creeds and religions.’ It is far more difficult to offend people in 2018 but one thing is for sure, Birr Stage Guild’s production of this musical will make you laugh and that is a promise!
BSG’s The Producers runs in the Marian Hall Birr on February 1, 2 and 3. Tickets are available at the box office of Birr Theatre & Arts centre Theatre on 057-9122911 or online at www.birrtheatre.com
Patrons are being advised to secure tickets early and also to note there is a parental guidance rating in place.