Exceptionally funny show by Leamington and Warwick group
You aim to create a Broadway flop, the worst story, worst director, worst actors, and it’s called ‘a satirical masterpiece’.
‘Springtime for Hitler’ - from the producers, larger-than-life Max Bialystock (Matt Everitt) and timid accountant Leo Bloom (Sam Henshaw) - is as far from PC as the earth is from mars. It’s an accounting ruse to make money – out of failure.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBloom arrives to audit the books and finds a glaring error that the IRS would ignore. Max Bialystock has a coterie of little old ladies who generously support his productions in exchange for some pretty racy games, and he wants $2m - a million for each - to plough into the musical.
Franz Liebkind (Lee White), the writer, is keeping the flame alive for the Fuhrer, and also pigeons in a loft just off Broadway. Though initially set to play Hitler, the instruction to ‘break a leg’ comes true and he’s replaced by the director - Roger de Bris (Steve Smith) who, with his sidekick Carmen Ghia (Ash Spall), is part of a lively household and as camp as a row of pink tents. Saucy Ulla from Sweden arrives to audition for Eva Braun and stays to run off to Rio with Leo – while Max goes to jail.
This is a marvellous show - ambitious, fast paced and beautifully handled. My favourite scene is Max Bialystock in jail where he reprises the whole story – including the interval. This is well worth seeing, exceptionally funny and lovely stuff.