Wednesday, April 7, 2004
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Wednesday, April 7, 2004 |
| Mel Brooks lights up Atlanta with lyrical laughs and actor's antic By LINDSAY BIANCHI One of the hottest shows running just opened last night at The Fox and is sure to have audiences in stitches. “The Producers,” Mel Brooks’ comedy classic from the 60s has translated to the stage surprisingly well, almost as good as “Springtime For Hitler,” the crazy show within the show. The biggest Tony Award winning show in Broadway history has Brooks skewering Nazi Germany and musicals in one master stroke giving the world its first bad taste bonanza. The original cast duo of Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick helped to launch Mel-mania into orbit with their song and dance portrayals of two desperately adorable characters. Max Bialystock (Lane) and Leo Bloom (Broderick) band together in an attempt to defraud New York City’s little old ladies of their nest eggs as unsuspecting investors. The show they concoct, based on an obscure play by one Franz Liebkind, “Springtime For Hitler,” fits their demented plan to a T. A tribute to the Fuhrer that is like a car wreck, “Springtime” backfires on Bialystock and Bloom hurtling them into financial ruin and prison, where they try it all again. Of course they’re sent to Sing Sing and start work on their next sure flop, “Prisoners of Love.” It’s a familiar tale of great highs and lows. Full of crazy people all vying for their place in the spotlight, “The Producers” is box office gold. The Atlanta production features two new leads as the devious duo. Lewis J. Stadlen is Max, the down-on-his-luck producer with delusions of grander and Alan Ruck steps into Leo’s shoes as the nebbish accountant. Stadlen, hand-picked by Nathan Lane to reprise his role, debuted on Broadway in 1967 in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Since then he has not been a stranger to the stage. “The Sunshine Boys,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Guys and Dolls,” “45 Seconds From Broadway” and “The Man Who Came to Dinner” have all showcased his talent. Alan Ruck will be familiar to fans of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in which he immortalized the role of Cameron, the neurotic high school buddy of Ferris (Broderick, again), the kid too cool for school. Ruck also lent his comic talents to “Spin City,” the hilarious sit-com about life with the Mayor of New York. Ruck is no stranger to Broadway. He was the Tony-award winning producer of “Biloxi Blues,” another turn with Broderick and also “The Lucky Spot” and “Billy Bishop Goes to War.” Also starring in this version are Fred Applegate as Franz Liebkind, Charley Izabella King as Ulla, Josh Prince as Carmen Ghia and Lee Roy Reams as Roger Debris. Characters don’t get much funnier than these nutcases. Watching them interact is fascinating fun. “The Producers” runs through April 18. Showtime is 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Sunday evening shows are at 7:30 p.m. There are no shows on Monday. To order tickets on-line visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com. To charge by phone, call TicketMaster at 404-817-8700 or stop by the Fox Theatre box office. Tickets range in price from $17 to $66.
WHAT: Mel Brook’s “The Producers.” WHERE: The Fabulous Fox Theatre WHEN: Through April 18; Tuesdays-Friday at 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. HOW MUCH: Tickets range from $17 to $66. FOR MORE INFO: Visit www.producersontour.com or www.broadwayacrossamerica.com. or Phone 404-873-4300.
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