PLAY REVIEW
VALDOSTA — One song in Peach State Summer Theatre’s “The Producers” is called “When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It.”
Well, everybody in this show’s got bucket loads of it — talent, chemistry, charisma and stamina — and they aren’t afraid to flaunt it.
“The Producers” is a non-stop whirlwind of gags, pratfalls, songs, dances, and scene changes. Would anyone expect any less from what has been one of Broadway’s biggest shows of this decade and the manic mind of Mel Brooks, who also created classic film comedies, such as “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” and the original, non-musical movie of “The Producers.”
Director Randy Wheeler has a firm grasp on Brooks’ brand of musical madness. Then Wheeler allows the cast to enjoy a fine romp across the Peach State stage of Sawyer Theatre. Since his retirement from Valdosta State University Theatre, Wheeler has restricted himself to directing one show per year with PSST!
With “The Producers,” as he does each year with Peach State, Wheeler proves he’s still got it. He can manage a massive production with multiple scene changes, production numbers, costume changes, and still keep the entire show moving with the deft touch of a well-timed pratfall.
The entire show is helped by a versatile ensemble cast playing a broad number and range of characters from lusty old ladies and musty accountants to gay blades and goose-stepping Nazis.
This ensemble cast is studded with excellent supporting characters. Marc Cornes’ insane Nazi playwright Franz Leibkind is a knee-slapping scream. Nick Mason deserves three snaps and a sharp salute for his performances as Roger De Bris and then as De Bris playing a swishy Adolf Hitler in “Springtime for Hitler,” the show within a show. Julia VanderVeen exudes a Madeline Kahn-type cross of the silly and the sensual as the Swiss bombshell Ulla.
At the top of the marquis are the producers themselves: the characters of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, impressively portrayed by John Allen Biles and Johnny Machesko.
Biles is PSST!’s Actors Equity Association actor.
This season he also plays the King in PSST!’s “Big River” and the father in “Once On This Island.” Last year, he played the genie in PSST!’s “Aladdin” and the immigrant father in “Ragtime.” He tops them all with his Bialystock.
Machesko is key to the success of this Peach State season. He’s having a busy summer playing Huck Finn in “Big River” and Papa Ge in “Once On This Island.”
Together, Biles and Machesko breathe non-stop comic life into Bialystack and Bloom. They have great comic timing and chemistry. They riff off one another as if they have worked together for years rather than a few weeks, all with a manic spontaneity. They dance. They sing. They tell jokes.
They perform physical comedy. They prove they can do it, and do it all. Biles and Machesko are a non-stop joy to watch.
As is this entire show. In a pre-show interview, Randy Wheeler mentioned that “The Producers” is as much a dance show as it is a comedy. He wasn’t joking. From quick bits of soft shoe to full-scale production numbers, including a show-stopping bit in “Along Came Bialy” with old-lady characters dancing with walkers, “The Producers” dances across the stage thanks to the brilliant choreography of Jacque Wheeler.
“The Producers” is a Mel Brooks show, so expect some language and adult themes, and, if Brooks is your cup of comedy tea, expect a night full of laughs.
This review is based on Tuesday’s performance.
“The Producers” continues 7:30 p.m., July 2; 3 p.m., July 5; 7:30 p.m., July 7, 9, 10; 3 p.m., July 12; 7:30 p.m., July 14, 16, 18, Sawyer Theatre, Valdosta State University Fine Arts Building, corner of Oak and Brookwood.
Tickets: $25, adult; $20, seniors, students; $18, groups of 10 or more.
Reservations, more information: Tickets are now available online; visit the Web site at www.valdosta.edu/psst; or call 259-7770.
The Valdosta Daily Times is proud corporate sponsor of Peach State Summer Theatre!
Local News
Related Photos
-
The voluptuous Ulla (Julia VanderVeen) auditions for Max (John Allen Biles) and Leo (Johnny Machesko) as their new secretary/receptionist in Peach State’s production of Mel Brooks’ ‘The Producers.’ unknown
Discussion
Show produces big laughs
- Local News
-
-
Don Giovanni: VSU presents Mozart’s most famous opera
VALDOSTA — Editing Mozart isn’t for sissies.
It takes a certain knowledge, talent and sheer chutzpah to perform surgery on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Alas, in our age of short-attention spans, it is a challenge which many opera productions must consider, given that many of Mozart’s originals stretched as long as four hours. -
Traffic Unit coming to Hahira
HAHIRA — The Hahira City Council voted to allow the addition of a Traffic Enforcement Unit to the Hahira Police Department at Thursday night’s regular session council meeting.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit will patrol two miles of Interstate 75 and according to Hahira Police Chief Terry Davis, has nothing to do with making money and everything to do with the safety of Hahira’s citizens. -
Life’s a Drag
Theatre Guild Valdosta unleashes some of its leading players this week to star in its newest comedy, “Leading Ladies.”
-
Driving into the Future
President John F. Kennedy once said that children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future. You hear a variation of this every day, but it’s not often that you come across a teacher that whole-heartedly believes it.
-
Lowndes' Harvey-Clemons sends letter of intent to Georgia
Regarded as the state of Georgia’s best player, Lowndes’ Josh Harvey-Clemons announced Wednesday that he will be staying in-state to play college football.
-
Lowndes' grading guide stirs controversy
The Lowndes County school system has implemented a new guide to grading for students in the third through eighth grades that has caused alarm among parents in the community.
-
Giving Back: Boys and Girls Club honors volunteers
Seventeen-year-old Jacob Beverly thought he was invited to the 66th Annual Dinner Meeting of the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta Tuesday night only to give a speech.
He didn't realize that he was also being honored as the recipient of the 2011 “Youth of the Year” award by the organization. -
Deer Fest coming in March as an all new adventure
When the 8th annual Deep Woods Deer Fest opens on Saturday, March 3 it will have evolved into the South Georgia OutdoorFest.
-
Hahira website manager fired
The City of Hahira terminated its website manager after a number of city council minutes went missing from the database, according to Hahira City Manager Jonathan Sumner at Monday night’s city council work session.
-
Ramona Quimby: Bringing a children’s book to life
Monday may have been the “Ramona Quimby” cast’s first time stepping on stage in costume, but they will become used to these clothes. Very used to them.
In addition to Valdosta State University Theatre & Dance’s two public performances this weekend, these student actors will wear these costumes in approximately 20 more shows. - More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
