Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast

The Producers
Manatee Players
Review by William S. Oser | Season Schedule


Benjamin Taylor and Craig Weiskerger
Photo by Brian Craft
Manatee Performing Arts Center and Manatee Players opens their 2017-2018 season with a spirited production of Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan's The Producers.

This production proves that, in spite of the old saying, sometimes the show doesn't go on. On opening night, Craig Weiskerger, playing Leo Bloom, slipped on some water from act one scene one when Max Bialystock throws it at Leo to calm him down. Mr. Weiskerger sustained a dislocated shoulder and the opening night performance was suspended, along with the rest of the opening weekend. Artistic Director and director Rick Kerby helped Mr. Weiskerger, restaging a bit here and there, and the show did open the following week. Add in a sermon by my rabbi, who after seeing the show in previews opined that it was not possible to ever laugh at Nazis, and the political climate after Charlottesville last week, and this show had a heightened reality for me.

The musical, adapted by Mel Brooks from his own movie with an assist on the book by Thomas Meehan, opened on Broadway in 2001 to spectacular reviews and garnered a record setting 12 Tony Awards, which still stands. Both the original movie and the musical are very clearly in Mel Brooks' unique style. Take an idea, pump it up until it becomes funny, then pump it up even more until it crosses all lines of decency and becomes either hilarious or totally outrageous, depending on one's sense of these things. The idea of a musical about Nazis and to some extent glorifying Adolf Hitler is pretty outrageous, but since the real focus of The Producers is the crass world of Broadway, I can look past it. It is interesting to note that Brooks wrote and made the original film shortly after writing the book for the musical All American, which from everything I know was not a happy experience.

Manatee Players has put together a very strong cast, many playing supporting parts when they have starred in previous productions. Rick Kerby directs everyone to play very broadly, when sometimes a little subtlety engages the audience more strongly. Making his Manatee Players debut, Benjamin Taylor plays Max Bialystock. His resume suggests that his home base is Eight O'Clock Theatre in Largo where he has played a number of starring parts, including a previous outing as Max. Craig Weiskerger as noted above is Leo Bloom, a part that fits him very well. When he first reaches for his treasured blue blanket, the love in his eyes conveys the inner heart of this character.

Sarah Cassidy is Ulla, continuing a romp through a wide variety of leading lady roles. This lady can sing most anything, and play anything from shy to sultry. Rodd Dyer is Roger De Bris and Brian Chunn is his "common law" assistant Carmen Ghia. They are both hilarious, if maybe just a little too flouncy. This goes on the books as one of Mr. Dyer's most memorable portrayals. Mr. Chunn's role does not provide as many center stage moments, although both camped it up to great effect during the intermission's 50/50 drawing. Griffyn Holcomb as Franz Liebkind adds another fine featured role to his Manatee Players resume. The entire ensemble is very strong, but special nods to Cory Woomert, Jay Poppe, James Shepard V, Audrey Lipton, and Anna Grace Robinette, each of whom appear in multiple cameo roles.

Rick Bogner leads his ensemble from the keyboard and they keep the musical end of things lively. Sets by Michael Newton Brown are sparkly, as they need to be, Becky Evans provides fine costumes, and Joseph Oshry lights it all as if for a Broadway opening night (and closing, if being produced by Max Bialystock). Sound design by Tom Sell is vividly clear, every word understandable. I hate to jinx anything, but I really believe all the sound ghosts that haunted the first couple of years of this theater are finally gone forever.

The performance of The Producers that I attended was a sellout, darn good for this time of year when none of our seasonal people are here. This production is a fun opening to what I hope will be a great season for Manatee Players.

Manatee Players presents The Producers at Manatee Center for the Performing Arts through August 27, 2017, at 502 3rd Ave W., Bradenton; 941-748-0111, manateeplayers.com.

Cast:
Max Bialystock: Benjamin Taylor
Leo Bloom: Craig Weiskerger
Ulla: Sarah Cassidy
Roger DeBris: Rodd Dyer
Carmen Ghia: Brian Chunn
Franz Liebkind: Griffyn Holcomb
Nazi Stormtrooper: Cory Woomert
Bryan, Set Designer: Ian Cicco
Kevin, Costume Designer: Cory Woomart
Scott Choreographer: Alexander Zickafoose
Mr. Marks: Brian Chunn
Hold Me-Touch Me: Victoria Gross
Lick-Me Bite-Me: Linda Roeming
Kiss-Me Feel-Me: Zoe Zimmerman
Usherettes: Audrey Lipton, Anna Grace Robinette
Jack: Alexander Zickafoose
Donald: James Sheppard V
Jason: Jay Poppe
Sergeant: Cory Woomert
O'Riley: Alexander Zickafoose
O'Rourke: Ian Cicco
O'Houlihan: Eldred Brown
Judge: Jay Poppe
Jury Foreman: Zoe Zimmerman
Prison Trustee: Eldred Brown
Prison Guard: Ian Cicco
Workman: James Sheppard V
Heil-Los: Ian Cicco, Dylan Glover, Audrey Lipton, Eliza Lipton, James Sheppard V, Alexander Zickafoose
Ensemble: Brian Arellano-Santana, Eldred Brown, Ian Cicco, Anna Fleece, Dylan Glover, Victoria Gross, Griffyn Holcomb, Skylar Homan, Amanda Lade, Audrey Lipton, Eliza Lipton, Joshua Roberson, Anna Grace Robinette, Linda Roeming, James Sheppart V, Bryan Stark, Kaleigh Valach, Cory Woomart, Alexander Zickafoose, Zoe Zimmermann

Orchestra:
Conductor/Keyboard: Rick Bogner
Second Keyboard: Christine Allen Bruno
Reeds: Teri Booth
Trumpet: Victor Mongillo
Percussion: John Januszewski