The Producers Opens In Las Vegas

After months of speculation about whether it would actually happen, "The Producers" opened last night at Paris Las Vegas. Now the speculation about whether it will have a good run here will begin.

Before I chime in with my opinion, I must in fairness note that I saw the Broadway production with the original cast twice. I saw the original film and the film of the musical. In short, I know my "Producers" and love it. (The exception being the 2005 movie. That, not so much.)

The Las Vegas production, seen at a preview, is shorter than the original, clocking in at approximately 90 minutes without an intermission. Thus, we don't hear Max explain how he's been "Betrayed."  Nor do Max and Leo get to wonder "Where Did We Go Right." There's no "Der Guten Tag Hop Clop" or (thankfully) "That Face." Bits of the remaining songs and scenes are cut.

So, what's left? In a word or three - lots of fun.

The cast is terrific. Comparisons are odious but they are probably inevitable. As Max, Brad Oscar is just grand. He knows the part; he inhabits it. No complaints there. Larry Raben's Leo is very sweet, though his voice is a bit weak. But they played off each other beautifully. They fit well.

Of course, Max and Leo may be the leads, but the big news here is David Hasselhoff as Roger DeBris. The crowd loved him and he looked to be having a ball. His fans - one or two in "Knight Rider" gear - hooted and hollered at his every move. Hasselhoff is game, mincing around the stage as befits his character. He is not as commanding as Gary Beach was in the original and his voice is not as resonant. But he does the job very well and is clearly having a great time.

And Hasselhoff seems to be a generous guy. All of the publicity, the posters, the press, carry the words "starring David Hasselhoff." He knows he's he main attraction but he also knows it's not about him. He takes his curtain call before Oscar and Raben, rightly deferring to them.

The rest of the cast is generally up to the standard of the original. Rich Affannato as Carmen Ghia doesn't miss a beat (he could be Roger Bart's twin) and Leigh Zimmerman does Ulla proud. In all, it's a terrific company. 

As for the technical end, it's great. Sets, costumes, lighting - all first rate. Mel Brooks and Susan Strohman gave it all the love, care and attention they lavished on the original.

With all these riches onstage the question remains: Will 'The Producers" run in Las Vegas? Truthfully, that's anyone's guess. Someone in Las Vegas decided awhile ago that to succeed here ashow has to be no more than 90 minutes long. Thus we had shortened versions of "We Will Rock You," "Avenue Q" and "Hairspray." They all closed, although "We Will Rock You" lasted more than a year. The most successful Broadway musical here is "Mamma Mia!" And that runs full-length at two-and-a-half hours.

So, who can tell?  This production of "The Producers" is eminently worthy of a run. Stay tuned.