THE PRODUCERS delivers dazzling entertainment – another “5 out of 5” from the Kavinoky – but only 5 shows left!
Apr 13, 2018Saturdays at 3:30 & 7:30, Sundays at 2 at the Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Avenue on the D’Youville College campus. (829-7668). www.kavinokytheatre.com Runtime almost 2-1/2 hours with one intermission. Cookies, fruit and cheese plates, beer, wine, coffee.L to R – Sham, Arianne Davidow as Ulla, MysliwyTHUMBNAIL SKETCH: Broadway Producer Max Bialystock’s star is not shining so brightly these days, when his shy, neurotic accountant, Leo Bloom, explains how a heavily invested complete flop that closes after one show can actually make the producers millions. Intrigued, they get the worst, most offensive script they can (a celebration of Hitler), hire the worst, most incompetent director they know (Roger DeBris), all the while Max “works” his Rolodex of rich, lonely old ladies, collecting checks by the score. THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: With firm, clear, crisp direction from Lynne Kurdziel Formato, this is one of the best productions going. Really, don’t deny yourself a treat. After last season’s one-woman stunner, GROUNDED, it’s clear that The Kavinoky Theatre, under “new” management by Loraine O’Donnell, can do anything they want to and pull it off handsomely. Chi (L), ShamThis cast is a long list of Buffalo favorites, who, as good as they are, are even better here. Norm Sham as Max seems ten years younger, his energy is so high. On the other hand, the talented Brian Mysliwy, as Leo, who so often is allowed by other directors to be way over the top, here maintains (for him) a more even performance and it’s very much appreciated.Three standouts deserve special mention, again under the headline “as good as they are, here they are even better.” Greg Gjurich as the director Roger DeBris is simply fabulous and absolutely nails it. Gjurich is almost always perfect; here he’s perfect with glitter. And Arianne Davidow, once again typecast as the sexpot, in this case as “Ulla,” expands her physical repertoire in, shall we say, new and exciting ways. But for sheer OMG, hats o... (Buffalo Rising)
