LITTLE ROCK — 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 of Brooks 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 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 turned the somewhat laborious beginning of the play around when he arrived onstage as Franz, the Nazi composer. His German accent was over-the-top great, and his songs infused life into 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 coarse language and 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, and 7:30 p.m. performances Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Tickets are $30. More information is available at (501) 450-3265. A complete schedule is available at the Web site, www.arkshakes.com.
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.
Arkansas, Pages 24 on 06/21/2009