16a&e
A Crossdressing HITLER?
Cub Reporter September 24, 2010
Roger De Bris gives Hitler a new personality when he takes the stage.
The crowned Roger De Bris (Trevor Fanning) flirts shamelessly with Leo Bloom (Jason Gloye) when Bloom arrives at his apartment.
‘The Producers’ offensively funny JoeMount
joemountcub@gmail.com Trevor Fanning’s short synopsis of his lead character: “I play Roger De Bris. He’s considered to be the worst director…He’s gayer than a two-dollar bill.” Fanning’s highly “colorful” joke is a perfect reflection of the show he’s in: “The Producers.” The entire show is a tongue-in-cheek guilty pleasure with humor bordering on the offensive, and characters mocking the stereotypes they play. No race, culture, or sexuality is safe in “The Producers.” You can’t help but laugh with this show. Think “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” meets “South Park.” Fanning is definitely a show stealer in his outstanding performance as the very gay Roger De Bris. Performing such
songs as “Keep it Gay” and “Springtime for Hitler,” he keeps the audience rolling in their seats. “It’s (all) very offensive, but in a good-humored sort of way,” said Fanning. The plot: Max Bialystock teams up with Leo Bloom to put together the worst Broadway flop in history after Bloom discovers they can make more money with a flop than with a hit. They find the worst script, a praise to Adolf Hitler written by the Neo-Nazi Franz Liebkind, hire the worst cast they can find, and recruit Roger De Bris to direct. But DeBris has some ideas of his own when he rewrites the script after having a “stoke...of genius!” with Hitler winning the war and an entire chorus number, complete with a Nazi-themed fashion show and tap dancing storm troopers. But when the lead breaks his leg
Info to Know: Footlite: 1847 N. Alabama St. Box Office: (317) 926-6630 Ticket Prices: Adults $17 Students $15 Seniors $15 Sept. 24-25: 8 p.m. Sept. 26: 2:30 p.m. Oct. 1-2: 8 p.m. Oct. 3: 8 p.m. moments before the curtains rise, De Bris decides to go on as Hitler. Adolf has a never-before-seen side to him: going from an iron-fisted dictator to a fabulous Fuhrer in the time it takes to say “break a leg.” Instead of being the flop it was supposed to be, De Bris’ performance makes critics believe the show is the best satire of the decade. After spending some time in jail, the duo produces
Ulla (Jessica Biernacki) “dances” during her “audition” with Leo Bloom (Jason Gloye) and Max Bialystock (Kevin D. Smith). Courtesy photos/Zach Rosing
musical hits with the inmates and eventually gets a pardon from the governor which allows them to return to Broadway. The show is made for mature audiences. Covering everything from Nazis to nymphos, “The Producers” is a must-see for anyone who enjoys the highly offensive, incredibly inappropriate and outrageously hilarious.