The Producers review – zingy Mel Brooks comedy goes big and broad
The Producers, directed by Julia Robertson for Joshua Robson Productions (frequent Hayes collaborators), goes broad but not deep. The zingy Mel Brooks comedy follows Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Anton Berezin, blustering and bullish) fresh off a string of flops. When accountant Leo Bloom (Des Flanagan, charming and with a distinct hint of Matthew Broderick in his voice) shows up to take on the books, he muses that it would be easy to profit off a musical failure by overselling investments. This is music to Bialystock's ears, and Bloom ends up as his partner in crime. They find what they're sure is the worst show in the world (a fair bet, given it's called Springtime for Hitler), and set out to make themselves a massive payday.
Berezin and Flanagan have an easy rapport, and they hit the famous lines fans of the musical or Brooks' 1967 movie might be looking for, but there's nothing between them to chew on; their late conflict and its sweet resolution feels emptier than you'd hope. These characters – anxious, hopeful, hopeless, desperate, wanting – are the stuff of great drama. It would be nice to have seen a little more of it – sometimes more emotional heft and more investment in the stakes of the plot can help the laughs land harder.
Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning
Robertson revels in the joyousness of satire, her production rolling around in scene-stealing moments of silliness. It's all big, like the gag show marquees that dot the walls of Nick Fry's modular set, many intact from the original film (Death of a Salesman on Ice, She Stupps to Conquer) and the prolonged line deliveries designed to get a laugh. Even Osibi Akerejola's music direction leans into bombast and volume to help sell the laughs. And you really do see the cast sweat, thanks to Shannon Burns' witty, space-defying choreography.
Sign up to Saved for Later
Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips
after newsletter promotion
If there's a touch of anxiety in the audience, it's understandable: when a constellation of swastika flags fall from the ceiling, and the cast sieg heils, the image is not as far-fetched in 2025 as it should be.
Leaning so hard on silliness in such a small space results in more spectacle than bite. Still, there's a lot to enjoy. Robertson's productions ensure supporting roles are given just as much time, space and lighting to make a mark as the leads. Here, it's even more essential: Bialystock and Bloom are holding down all the spectacle and it's the rest of the cast who get to show their teeth.
Alexandra Cashmere takes the typical (and now painfully dated) Hot Swedish Girl role of Ulla and plays her with such a commitment to weirdness that you never doubt she's a full and complete person – it's a bright and brilliant performance. Blake Erickson is a fantastic Roger De Bris, the director who steps into the title role at the last minute, and Mikey Sakinofsky offers a new take on Carmen Ghia, De Bris's 'common-law assistant'. Together, they freshen up the now-tired queer stereotypes baked into their roles. As Franz Liebkind, the writer who wants to see Hitler's so-called good name restored, Jordan Shea – returning to the stage after a decade writing plays – gives the character's intentions the respect they deserve (none) with a well judged and lovingly stupid approach.
But when the depth is in the deep bench of supporting roles – and the full ensemble are excellent – but lacking in the star duo, the end result feels less like a show for the Hayes and more like a show bent to fit within it.
The Producers is on at the Hayes theatre until 27 April, then Riverside theatres, Parramatta 13-16 May.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Loose Women faces another blow amidst ITV cuts and 'disappointing' change
The stars of Loose Women have reportedly been left 'disappointed' after they undergo a studio 'downgrade' after it was announced the show was being cut to 30 weeks It's been reported that the Loose Women stars have been hit by yet another blow, and it's claimed that the stars have been left 'disappointed' by their new studio. The show is currently filmed in London's White City but will soon move - with it being reported to be moved to The Hospital Club in Covent Garden. It was revealed that the show would only air for 30 weeks from 52. This is not the only blow, however, as the show will also be losing its studio audience. Reports have also suggested that some of the 26-strong panel could also be cut. Now, it's been reported that the new "broom cupboard" studio will be a third of the size of their old one, leaving the presenters hugely disappointed. It comes after one TV star admitted she sleeps in separate bed to partner as she fumes over pregnancy. "Cast and crew are crestfallen. It feels like a broom cupboard. It's going to be very cramped," a source told The Sun. "It feels like the show they've fought so long and hard to create is slowly being decimated. It's heartbreaking.' ITV also confirmed that there were no plans to change the show being broadcast across ITV1 and ITVX. Earlier this week, Janet Street Porter said the changes wouldn't affect her, although she was sad about the huge changes. "They won't really affect me because I work when I want to work," she shared with Woman Magazine. "I can see they need to save money, but from my point of view, I'm sad they've cut the episodes because Loose Women as a brand is doing extremely well for ITV. "Very well indeed. It's increased its audience share and it's loved by the audience," Janet, who has been part of the show for 11 year,s said. Alongside their daytime show, the Loose Women launched their own podcast in March this year, which was available every Tuesday and Friday on ITVX. The show featured a different duo from the show each episode, who opened up on a wide variety of topics. The podcast is said to do brilliantly on ITVX, with the hosts releasing 20 episodes in the first series. It was later announced that the show would be back for a second series later this summer.
Times
5 hours ago
- Times
Catherine Zeta-Jones: ‘This is a new chapter'
'T here was never any question that I was going to be in showbusiness,' says Catherine Zeta-Jones, the girl who left Wales aged nine to appear on the West End stage in Annie, who won an Oscar for her appearance as a high-kicking murderess in the film Chicago and a Tony for her turn in A Little Night Music on Broadway. We are talking over Zoom, Zeta-Jones lavishly glamorous in a vintage YSL shirt, a gold and diamond Cartier watch, fat diamond studs in her ears, full make-up and a huge arrangement of orchids as a backdrop. But the razzle-dazzle is all part of the performance — because then she smiles and lifts up her leg to show me her off-duty white fluffy slippers (she has been dancing since she was four and remains impressively limber). 'I am actually in my sweatpants,' she says. 'I've been on set since 6am.' Now 55, Zeta-Jones is enjoying a professional renaissance. 'It's a new chapter. It's what I have been craving. Variety.' Her new projects are certainly varied. She is currently in Bilbao making the Amazon series Kill Jackie, in which she portrays a former cocaine kingpin turned art dealer whose past foes are out to murder her. 'I'm playing a Welsh woman, speaking in my own accent for the first time. It's really empowering, as an actor it frees me up,' she says. I ask if she's had to ramp up the Welsh; she has lived in America for the past three decades and has been married to the American actor Michael Douglas for almost 25 years. Her accent is a peculiar melange — in one sentence she pronounces 'route' three different ways. 'No, it just comes back, all the nuances,' she insists, reeling off some Welsh lingo. She is also in a forthcoming indie film with Natalie Portman called The Gallerist — 'a lovely little jewel of a part,' she says. But the most high-profile of Zeta-Jones's latest projects is Tim Burton's Wednesday, in which she plays Morticia Addams opposite Jenna Ortega as the titular goth anti-heroine, whose deadpan nihilism has become a cultural phenomenon. The first series, which came out in 2022, is the most-viewed English language show on Netflix. Zeta-Jones's appearance in that season was brief but impactful; she perfectly conjured Morticia's smouldering hauteur and otherworldly amorality. 'When Tim called me about the first season, before I even saw a script, I said, 'I'm in.' To play Morticia Addams in Tim Burton's world … It was just magic.' Burton, it seems, was equally spellbound. 'I've been a fan of hers for a long time,' he says over the phone. 'It's the Addams family, so it's usually pretty over the top, but we also wanted to give it an emotional resonance and Catherine's just very good at doing that, delivering something heightened, but also tapping into those real emotions.' There is ample opportunity for this in the second series, in which Morticia's character has been expanded. 'Tim really wanted to incorporate the family into the show,' Zeta-Jones says. So Morticia and Gomez Addams (played by Luis Guzmán) have relocated to Nevermore Academy to help plan a gala and keep an eye on their children; mysteries are multiplying, macabre beasts are being unleashed and Thing's loyalties are being tested — even when acting opposite a disembodied hand, Zeta-Jones's Morticia is compelling. As in the first series, there are plenty of devilish pranks and gory murders, but the most high stakes moments are those in which mother and daughter enter into emotional combat. 'That is the crucial dynamic,' Burton explains. In one scene Morticia and Wednesday have a night-time duel, fencing foils flashing (Zeta-Jones fans will be reminded of the famous fight scene in her breakout role opposite Antonio Banderas in The Mask of Zorro in 1998). 'I got to bend into the comedy and the emotion, the vulnerability,' Zeta-Jones says. 'Morticia is like all of us. We're strong, but we're vulnerable.' And she has nothing but praise for her co-star Ortega. 'When we first met I didn't know who she was. It took me one moment on set to work out who she was going to be. It was very clear that she was a phenomenon. I mean, forget the show, just her as a young woman, as an actress, the way she is. She has a smart head on her shoulders.' Leather Trench coat, £12,332, Gabriela Hearst. Shoes, £635, Aquazurra. White gold and diamond earrings, pendant and ring (left hand), prices on application, and ring (right hand), £8,600, De Beers. White gold and diamond necklace, £144,000, and ring (right hand), £45,500, Boucheron JAMES D KELLY Shirt, £350, Ami Paris. Coat, £1,295, Joseph. Yellow gold and diamond necklace, £25,100, and white gold and diamond ring, £3,840, Messika. Rose gold and diamond bracelet, £54,800, Chaumet. Panthère de Cartier yellow gold and diamond watch, £49,700, and yellow gold ring, £2,410, Cartier JAMES D KELLY Top, £1,215, Etro. Jacket, £2,700, and skirt, £1,590, Stella McCartney. Silver earrings, £139, and cuff, £199, Jewells. Gold and silver ring set, £200, Demarson JAMES D KELLY Ortega's trajectory, a child actress who was launched to stardom, aged 20, via her role in Wednesday, mirrors that of Zeta-Jones. She was 21 when she appeared in the The Darling Buds of May, a bucolic vision of 1950s England, in which she played the ravishing Mariette, captivating the country the moment she appeared on screen — it was one of the most-watched TV shows in the UK at the time. 'I went to sleep on a Sunday night, when I woke up, everybody knew who I was,' she says. • Wednesday series 2 review: Jenna Ortega's a gothic hoot But really, Catherine Zeta-Jones was always a star. She was raised in Mumbles, a seaside town in Swansea. Her mother was a seamstress and her father worked in a sweet factory, which he eventually bought, following a £100,000 win on the bingo, the money also helped to fund dancing lessons for Zeta-Jones. 'It feels like a very precocious thing, and I don't know where it comes from, but I'd say it out loud, 'I want to be on the stage.' I was a bit of a prodigy,' she says. She would come to London, queue for auditions and, if she was rejected, change her leotard, put her hair up in a ponytail and try again. Her hero was Elizabeth Taylor. 'To me she represented Hollywood. And there was also the Welsh connection with Richard Burton, the scandal of their love, the craziness, it was part of my upbringing. Right after I finished Annie at the Victoria Palace, she was in The Little Foxes at the same theatre. So, one matinee, I stood outside the stage door with a bunch of daffodils. I waited and I waited for her to come, and when she arrived I remember saying to her, 'Would you take your sunglasses off, so I can see your violet eyes?' And she said, 'It's way too early in the morning for that.' I didn't care, she took my daffodils and gave me a beautiful hug.' There have been extraordinary strokes of luck in Zeta-Jones's life, and not just the bingo win. When she was 17 she was in the chorus of 42nd Street, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and the second understudy for the lead role of Peggy Sawyer. The night she was called upon to play the part the producer, David Merrick, was in the audience and was so impressed that he gave it to her. The French director Philippe de Broca saw her in 42nd Street and cast her in his film Les 1001 Nuits. It wasn't a particularly successful film, but it was seen by the producers of The Darling Buds of May. 'There is luck, yes,' she says. 'But I always think that you create your luck. If I hadn't been prepared and ready to go, David Merrick wouldn't have promoted me.' Clockwise from top left: as Velma Kelly in Chicago; with David Jason in The Darling Buds of May; with Jenna Ortega, Isaac Ordonez and Luis Guzmán in series two of Wednesday; with Dennis Quaid in the thriller Traffic After The Darling Buds of May, Zeta-Jones became disenchanted with the relentless gorgeous girlfriend roles that she was offered. 'I don't consider myself a great beauty,' she says. 'I always thought of myself as attractive and interesting, but never a great beauty.' She moved to America to reinvent herself and got a part in the CBS mini-series Titanic. Again this wasn't hugely successful, but it was seen by Steven Spielberg, who was producing The Mask of Zorro at the time, and suggested her for the female lead. It was this role that really elevated Zeta-Jones to international stardom, and was also seen by Michael Douglas, whose head was turned by her charisma. Soon after they were both attending the Deauville Film Festival and he arranged to have a drink with her. During their meeting he said to her: 'I am going to be the father of your children.' Zeta-Jones was not initially charmed, but eventually fell for him and they were married in a million-dollar New York wedding in 2000. Their children, Dylan and Carys, were born in 2000 and 2003 respectively; the Douglases retreating from New York to Bermuda to raise their family. 'The city in the summertime is too hot, so Michael took me to the Hamptons and I was like, 'same people in shorts'. The social calendar is exhausting. So Michael took me to Bermuda because his mother was Bermudian and I thought, 'I love this.' It's an hour and a half in a plane. It's a British colony, there were pictures of the Queen when I went to the bank. So we bought a house there and stayed for ten years.' Douglas is himself Hollywood royalty — his father was Kirk Douglas, the actor who played Spartacus and who died in 2020 aged 103. 'He was a flirty little thing,' Zeta-Jones says. 'He was wonderful and he was very fond of me, as I was of him. I miss him. They [Kirk and his wife, Anne] left a philanthropic legacy that was way beyond movies.' Kirk Douglas donated most of his money — which was estimated at over $60 million — to his charitable foundation, and left nothing to Michael. But the Douglases are not doing so badly themselves. They have four homes, two in New York, one in Canada and one in Spain. 'I know it sounds very jet set, and I love to surround myself with beauty but it's not excessive, it's very comfortable,' Zeta-Jones says. Zeta-Jones with Michael Douglas and their daughter, Carys, at the Cannes Film Festival, 2023 DANIELE VENTURELLI/WIREIMAGE As a couple they like to spend time in their home in Spain, away from their public-facing lives. It can be challenging, she admits, when big stars are a couple. 'Two celebrities together make ten. It's just the way it is. There's two versions of the story and there's two make-believes,' she says. 'We don't listen to the crap that is written about us, that's the main thing. And we respect our space, we're independent spirits. We are very similar; we were born on the same day, 25 years apart. We're not afraid to be verbal, to express ourselves. I wear everything on my sleeve and so does he, which is good.' Douglas has recently announced that, now aged 80, he has no real intentions of acting again and that he just likes 'to watch my wife work'. 'Michael has definitely earned the chance to slow down,' Zeta-Jones says. 'But I never say never. He's his father's son and loves to work — let's just say, 'retirement' is a flexible concept.' They both agree, however, that he will be playing a lot of golf. Whereas one of Zeta-Jones's favourite ways to relax is homemaking, specifically organising — and stocking — her numerous wardrobes. 'I go to all the vintage stores in Paris. I buy things that you are probably never going to wear, like a gorgeous cape, just great pieces. I am loving classic Yves Saint Laurent at the moment. I get excited about evening dresses. For me, a pair of jeans is a pair of jeans. Spending £200 on a white T-shirt? Nah. But when it comes to couture, beautiful beading, the artistry … I love the theatre of fashion.' She's got Carys, 22, hooked too. 'She loves my closet. I have probably the biggest Fendi Baguette bag collection, and she's just found more in my mum's house. I've got everything from denim to pearl to sequins. Carla Fendi used to give them to me all the time, right when they were hot potatoes.' Top, £195, Me+Em. Trousers, £410, Max Mara. Yellow gold and diamond Tiffany Knot necklace, £37,200, yellow gold Elsa Peretti Bone cuff, £23,300, yellow gold Tiffany T bracelet, £7,525, and yellow gold Tiffany Knot bracelet, £8,375, Tiffany & Co JAMES D KELLY Shirt, price on application, Michael Kors. Jacket, £3,017, and trousers, £1,165, Givenchy. Bra, £260, Eres. Clash de Cartier yellow gold earrings, £4,400, and matching ring (right hand), £2,410, Trinity white, rose and yellow gold and diamond necklace, £6,950, and matching ring (left hand), £11,200, Cartier JAMES D KELLY Zeta-Jones is an intriguing mix. There is something inherently regal about her, from her self-presentation to her demeanour. She is old Hollywood. But she can also be funny, a bit naughty even — which is when her Welsh accent comes out. When I ask where she and her husband keep their Oscars, she says 'mine is in the country house in New York, Michael's is in the apartment in New York. We keep them apart, just in case, you know, there isn't like hanky-panky going on there.' She also remains driven and ambitious, but her competitive streak is now largely limited to games of Yahtzee with the family. 'I have had such a great and varied career,' she says. 'I've worked with great directors, great actors. Everything now is a bonus.' Wednesday season two, part one is streaming on Netflix now. Part two premieres on September 3 Styling Marian Nachmia. Hair Maranda Widlund. Make-up Brett Freedman. Local production Town Productions. Thanks to the Corinthia London hotel Love TV? Discover the best shows on Netflix, the best Prime Video TV shows, the best Disney+ shows , the best Apple TV+ shows, the best shows on BBC iPlayer, the best shows on Sky and Now, the best shows on ITVX, the best shows on Channel 4 streaming, the best shows on Paramount+ and our favourite hidden gem TV shows. Don't forget to check our critics' choices to watch and browse our comprehensive TV guide
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Dan Ziskie dead: House of Cards star dies as family pays tribute to 'remarkable talent'
Dan Ziskie, who starred in House of Cards and Treme, has died at the age of 80. The actor's family confirmed the news of his passing, saying he was 'a man of remarkable talent' Actor Dan Ziskie, famed for his gripping performances of political figures in House of Cards and Treme, has sadly died aged 80. His family confirmed that he died on 21 July in New York City due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Born in Detroit in 1944, Ziskie's path to stardom was far from ordinary. Prior to stepping into the spotlight, he was a university athlete, a freighter crewman, and even dabbled in journalism. His acting career took off at Chicago's Second City, where he refined his skills alongside comedy greats like John Belushi. He later relocated to New York, making his Broadway debut in 1980 and featuring in productions such as Morning's at Seven, I'm Not Rappaport, and After the Fall. Ziskie's television career was punctuated by roles that demonstrated his range. He played Vice President Jim Matthews in the early seasons of House of Cards and financier CJ. Liguori in HBO's Treme, reports the Daily Star. He appeared in six episodes of House of Cards from 2013 to 2017, acting alongside stars including Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright and Michael Kelly. The series won several Primetime Emmys and secured dozens of nominations and continued for six seasons. Ziskie also played New Orleans banker and reconstruction financier C.J. Liguori in HBO drama Treme, which aired from 2010 to 2013. He starred alongside Khandi Alexander, Rob Brown, Kim Dickens, Melissa Leo, Lucia Micarelli, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce, Jon Seda and Steve Zahn His other notable telly appearances include Law and Order, The Blacklist, Sex and the City, and Chappelle's Show. On the silver screen, he featured in films such as The Jackal, War of the Worlds, and portrayed NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue in the 2015 film Concussion. Beyond acting, Ziskie was a skilled photographer. His work graced major publications, and he published a photo book titled Cloud Chamber in 2017. He is survived by his brother David, sister-in-law Cynthia, his nephews Jesse, Brett, and Austin, and their six children. His family described him as "a man of remarkable talent and a keen observer of life." They added that he was "as vibrant and multifaceted as the characters he portrayed on stage and screen". His family wrote: 'Dan was a man of remarkable talent and a keen observer of life. "He was as vibrant and multifaceted as the characters he portrayed on stage and screen. His was a life lived with passion, a life that exemplified the beauty of pursuing one's dreams and the importance of cherishing every moment. "Dan will be profoundly missed, yet he will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew him, like a cherished character in the timeless narrative of their lives."
