REVIEW: The Producers, Palace Theatre, Manchester

You know there is something special afoot when a theatre audience is as chock-full of celebrities as the stage in front of you.
The Producers UK Tour 2015 - Jason Manford as Leo Bloom, centreThe Producers UK Tour 2015 - Jason Manford as Leo Bloom, centre
The Producers UK Tour 2015 - Jason Manford as Leo Bloom, centre

Of course, this does not necessarily mean the production is any good, but this one is simply brilliant.

The Producers is taking Manchester’s Palace Theatre by storm with its gleefully irreverent brand of musical farce, laced with glorious one-liners, fingers up to political correctness and calibrated with comedy genius to boot.

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Based on Mel Brooks’ beloved Academy Award winning movie, The Producers tells the story of New York producer Max Bialystock (Cory English) who recruits downtrodden accountant Leo Bloom (comedian Jason Manford) to help him pull off Broadway’s greatest scam.

The Producers UK Tour 2015The Producers UK Tour 2015
The Producers UK Tour 2015

In their bid to stage a huge musical flop, they accidently pull off a hit - the unlikely ‘Springtime for Hitler.’

But this production is not about the story, it is about the telling and is most definitely not for the cultural sensitive or indeed, faint hearted.

It shouldn’t work but absolutely does, taking the systematic rip out of Nazis, Swedes, Hitler, gay men, lesbians, actors, accountants and old people.

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Some cliched Irish New York cops even make a twinkle-toed appearance (on St Patrick’s Day) to get the full set.

The Producers UK Tour 2015The Producers UK Tour 2015
The Producers UK Tour 2015

Standout hilarious performances included comedian Phil Jupitus as Franz Liebkind; the short fused, carrier pigeon keeping former Nazi who had the audience almost literally rolling in the aisles and Tiffany Graves as Ulla the quirky blonde and Scandinavian (‘for breakfast many herrings’) object of Leo Bloom’s affections

Dancer and TV personality Louie Spence is an audience favourite, basically playing himself as eccentric Carmen Ghia, the assistant to flamboyant director Roger De Bris who is played by the mesmerising Olivier Award winning actor David Bedella.

The costumes are amazing and the staging magnificent and constantly changing - there are so many things to look at on stage it is hard to know where to focus through the glittery drag queens and sparkly swastikas.

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Jason Manford excels himself through his comedic acting and remarkably high notes (who knew?), rightly earning a standing ovation for his efforts from a star-studded audience including John Thompson, Dave Spikey, Kym Marsh, Olympic gold-medal winner Rebecca Adlington and most of the cast of Coronation Street.

Absolutely a hit, a musical triumph and a camp extravaganza.