I think that's fair for most of the score, with an obvious exception for the "Springtime for Hitler" sequence. Which, to be fair, is undoubtedly the funniest spoof of musicals that we'll probably ever hope to see.
The main melody of "I Wanna Be a Producer" absolutely could have been written by Harry Warren or Irving Berlin. Easily. Even Berlin on a good day.
But the song opens with a pretty spoof-y Kander & Ebb CABARET sound, followed by a very on-the-nose spoof of "Ol' Man River" from SHOW BOAT. And before the main refrain begins, the orchestration even hints at the melody with a French Horn solo that's meant to invoke R&H, probably THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
So, I'll give you this: although the gooey-carmel center of THE PRODUCERS is surely earnest and pastiche in a way that honors the form, the whole show is kinda gussied up & decorated with spoofy elements. The winks are pretty prevalent.
That's one of the reasons why it's so funny; I wouldn't change a thing.
- GMB |
