Springtime for Hitler

Germany was having trouble
What a sad, sad story
Needed a new leader to restore
Its former glory
Where, oh, where was he?
Where could that man be?
We looked around and then we found
The man for you and me

And now it's...
Springtime for Hitler and Germany
Deutschland is happy and gay!
We're marching to a faster pace
Look out, here comes the master race!
Springtime for Hitler and Germany
Rhineland's a fine land once more!
Springtime for Hitler and Germany
Watch out, Europe
We're going on tour!
Springtime for Hitler and Germany...

Excerpt from Springtime for Hitler

There is a habit in modern musical theatre, musicals being written in today's day and age, of getting a rather flimsy and generic storyline and then bolting on a collection of well-known songs. You've seen this in the likes of Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You and presumably Saturday Night Fever. The Producers however, is not a musical like this. It's a musical in the traditional sense, where the songs are as vitally important as the dialogue and acting in the telling of the story.

Now, I've worked sixteen shifts on the show, and tonight (now last night) was actually the first time I've managed to see the show in its entirety, start to finish. And let me tell you, my verdict is that it is possibly one of the most enjoyable shows I have seen in all my years working there. Now I'm an unashamed Mel Brooks fan. Heck, I even paid money to see Dracula: Dead and Loving It - possibly one of the worst movies ever made - even with Amy Yasbeck's breasts prominently featured.

The Producers is a funny show featuring some great performances. Reg Livermore (Max Bialystock) and Tom Burlinson (Leopold Bloom) are very entertaining. Chloë Dallimore (Ulla) is one of those women who should never be allowed to wear high heels. Frankly she's tall enough without them. Any extra help and she just becomes far too intimidating. Tony Sheldon (as Roger DeBris) and Grant Piro (Carmen Ghia) have the two most memorable and over-the-top characters in the show, yet they both know just how far to take it.

Much in the same way that William Shatner has now perfected the art of playing the character of William Shatner in every role he plays, so too does Bert Newton (Franz Leibkind) fulfill a similar position in Australia. In every show he is in, Bert Newton plays a variation on the role of Bert Newton. Yet the audience love him. Good on him for getting to that stage and making a living from it.

Now while it's only on in Brisbane for another week or so, I highly recommend anyone who gets the chance to go and see The Producers. Go there with a sense of humor and you won't be disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed it. When you've worked in theatres as long as I have (god help me), you tend to get blasé about the shows you see. It requires something special to create any kind of enthusiasm for a show. The Producers does that to me. I'm annoyed that it's taken me so long to actually see the whole show, but now that I have I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it for anyone.

As an aside, I somehow managed to accidentally crash the cast's party tonight to celebrate 300 performances in Australia of The Producers. I got some alcohol, got offered some very very rich and evil chocolate cake by Chloë Dallimore (who again - is far too tall - even in flat shoes, yet alone heels). Sometimes I guess there are benefits to working at QPAC.

[Listening to: Regurgitator - ...art - Virtual Life (12:19)]