Mel Brooks' comic musical The Producers hit its mark Friday night, with just the right mix of comedy and fun.
The musical captured all the wit and political incorrectness on the stage at the University of Central Arkansas during the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre Festival.
While the two main characters, played by Dan Matisa and Chris Crawford were fun, the supporting actors stole the show.
The definite highlight of the evening was watching Ken Zimmerman as Roger Debris, a cross dressing gay man who also ends up as a musical version of Hitler. Zimmerman sparkled - literally - as he danced and sang his way across the stage. He kept everyone cracking up with his antics. "Springtime for Hitler," and "Keep it Gay" were the two greatest songs of the play.
Jessejames Locorriere cq turned the somewhat laborious beginning of the play around when he came out on stage as Franz, the Nazi composer. His German accent was over-the-top great, and his songs brought life to the play. Locorriere, who is also playing the lead role in Macbeth at the festival, definitely showed his ability to play diverse roles.
And, of course, what would the play be without Carmen Ghia, played fabulously by Josh Rice. He took the character's quirks to the next level, much to the audience's delight.
Matisa as Max Bialystock shone in his final number, "Betrayed," while Crawford as Leo Bloom kept everyone in stitches whenever he needed his blue blanket. Kudos to Matisa, who appeared to be injured during the first number, but kept his chin up and finished the show, albeit with a limp.
The chorus occasionally seemed too small for such a big musical. The pit orchestra, made up of piano, bass and percussion, was too thin, and there were noticeable problems with difficult parts in the keys.
Warning: It is not family friendly! But it is hilarious for those who can deal with bad language, hand gestures and some sexual content.
The Producers will be staged again in the university's Reynolds Performance Hall for 2 p.m. performances today cq SUNDAY, and 7:30 p.m. performances June 24, 25 and 27.
Tickets are $30. More information is available from (501) 450-3265 cq . A complete schedule is available at the Web site, www.arkshakes.com cq.
The festival also features performances of The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth and a show based on C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.