The Producers as presented by Leixlip Musical and Variety Group

The Producers as presented by Leixlip Musical and Variety Group: Saturday, 27th April 2024. 

In the very safe hands and the great theatrical mind of Director/Choreographer, Claire Tighe, there was no chance at all of Leixlip presenting a sleepy production of the Mel Brooks masterpiece, The Producers. As expected, it was vibrant, colourful, brimming with outrageous humour, dazzling dance routines and sparkling razzmatazz. She pulled out all the stops to show this creation to its full advantage, with perfect casting, an understanding of the nature of the script and the ability to paint incredible pictures on the stage. She was facilitated by a beautifully designed set that overcame the limited facilities of the stage to give it the look of something much grander. Good use of projections and well-made and beautifully painted scenery managed to create the various settings more than adequately and even rose to some quite stunning set pieces. More relevantly the available stage space was very well used. 

Right from the outset, it was evident that Claire’s choreography was going to be a central feature of the production, with a classy opening number, followed up by a vibrant, almost ethnic routine for The King of Broadway, but it was “I Wanna Be A Producer” that set the show on fire with a routine that was as comical as it was glitzy and glamorous. From then on, the flamboyant numbers just kept on coming, with fabulous comedy in “Guten Tag Hop Clop”, “Keep It Gay” and “When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It”, and a blockbuster of a finale to act one with “Along Came Bialy”. Act Two is all about “Springtime For Hitler” and on this piece, Claire presented her very best work. Stylish, comical, precise and a complete feast for the eyes. 

If choreography and comedy were the focus on-stage, it was matched by musical excellence from the orchestra pit. Dermot O’Callaghan gave strong leadership to a wonderful orchestra who really seemed to enjoy their music. With a score that is so varied and vivacious, they had plenty of opportunities to display the range of their abilities, with mellow, moody pieces to the let-her-rip big band sounds of the showstoppers. All were accomplished with precision and panache. 

As with a previous production of this show, it’s difficult to talk about the strength of Max Bialystock as a comedian without also referencing Leo Bloom, for the two together present a package, as connected in body and soul as Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello. As a duo, their timing and their comedy were flawless, and their personas became one, played with hilarious antics and dynamic stagecraft. Filling these roles were Ian Tighe as Max, selling the schmaltz and the absurd, and Sean McMahon as Leo, brilliantly rising from weak-willed wimp to sizzling star, commanding the stage in all his numbers. Together and apart, they carried every scene with consummate ease and control, feeding off each other and uplifting each other. That they are both vocally adept added considerably to two very outstanding performances. 

Not that there was any lack of talent around them, for this was a cast that sparkled with high class comedy. Keeping it very gay were Ross Murray as an excellent Roger Debris and Mark Keegan as an outlandish Carmen Ghia. Ross strutted fabulously in his opening gown and quickly established his ludicrous character, rising to a wonderfully camp Hitler in Springtime 

for Hitler. Mark flounced around the stage having tantrums and hissing like a cat in heat, enjoying his camp-ness and creating a very convincing character. Both were engaging and sang very well indeed. “Keep it Gay” was enhanced by the participation of Ben Cole as Bryan, Charlie Owens as Kevin, Jordan Donnelly as Scott, Cillian and Katherine O’Keefe as Shirley. 

Fionn O’Dwyer gave a very comical and convincing performance as a formidable Franz Liebkind, delightfully ridiculous in Guten Tag Hop Clop and sustaining his character throughout. “Have You Ever Heard The German Band” was delivered with class and confidence. 

Aoife Masterson provided the sexy, sultry, sass of the production, giving heart and soul to her role of Ulla, setting pulses racing with her vocal delivery and her sensual movements. She played the part with a great sense of fun and a super accent. 

Judy Miller, as Hold-Me-Touch-Me, created a granny that I imagine most women would like to emulate when they get to that certain age, rampant and unconcerned by respectability, with a deliciously inappropriate display of geriatric gyrations. Alongside her, Stephanie Buchanan as Kiss-Me-Feel-Me, and Katherine O’Keefe as Lick-Me-Bite-Me, were equally unrestrained in their lust, all playing their parts beautifully. 

There were good performances, too, from Brian Dalton, as a very capable and tuneful Stormtrooper, and Elaine Brunton and Ciara Brennan as the animated and lyrical Usherettes. Good support was given by David Miller, Enda Roche, Seán Duffy and Cillian Hogan in a myriad of cameo roles. 

Oh, and I nearly forgot, Bert Carruthers was brilliant in all his cameo appearances!

Resplendent in the execution of the top-notch choreography, the chorus were equally engaging in their acting and participation in all their scenes, displaying, along the way, strong and precise vocal quality. 

While it was the excellent dancing-Nazi costumes that impressed me most, the standard of costumes for the rest of the show was very good indeed. The dancer set for “I Wanna Be A Producer” were beautiful, as were the Usherette costumes and the evening wear for the chorus. Principal costumes were all very good and appropriate, and the “prison” outfits were wonderful. There was good attention to hairstyles and wigs and make-up was always appropriate. The lighting plot for the show was thorough and atmospheric, creating good colourful pictures, some sparkling effects and nice isolations for the more intimate scenes. Cueing was very good, as was also the case with the radio mics, in a sound system that served the show extremely well. 

My sincere thanks to everyone involved for giving such a wonderful presentation of a fabulous comedy. Wishing you all continued success in the future.

Peter Kennedy

Gilbert Adjudicator 23/24

Photographer: Ciaran Austin