Springtime for Hitler

Springtime for Hitler

by Ville

Last night Butterflydeb and I went to see the musical "The Producers" at the Kansas City Music Hall. She had won the tickets from her fave radio station. How cool that she picked me to go with her! Opening night no less!

Well, we went last night. What a blast! For those of you unfamiliar with the material, "The Producers" is a Mel Brooks movie made in 1968, starring Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel. They portray Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, 2 lonely desperate souls who meet by chance, then cook up a scheme to make millions by producing the WORST show ever to be done on Broadway. The script they find is offensive and ridiculous to say the least. They set off to hire the worst director and the most inexperienced actors. Whats the name of the musical?? "Springtime for Hitler" of course. A play written by a delusional ex-SS who insists that Hitler was a kind and misunderstood man, and that, of course, Germany WON!

This musical within the musical has to be the funniest 15 minute scene set to music that I have ever seen! Keeping in mind that this is Mel Brooks, the entire musical was predictable, offensive and irreverent. But his tongue and cheek method of writing always seems to bring it all into perspective. That is to say, in great Brooksian style, he has a way of shouting "Get over yourself, this is funny shit!"Of course he leaves no one out, he makes fun of Jews, Germans, Gays, Blacks, Irish and in this one even little old ladyies aren't spared. But done so well, and with such humor and satire, that I would find it hard to believe if anyone could be "truly" offended.

Of course, as predicted, their sure fire flop is an unmitigated success and they both end up in Sing Sing. I hope that if any of you get the chance to see this that they do so. Deb and I had such a great time, and I was amazed at how the 3 hour production flew by! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!