Flop of a Lifetime

It's ribald, rowdy, riddled with sexual innuendo — and it stars a singing-and-dancing Adolf Elizabeth Hitler in the worst musical comedy in the entirety of Broadway's recorded history. "It" is Mel Brooks' The Producers, of course, and it's won every award under the sun. And now it has its time under the stars, as The Producers opens the Muny in Forest Park's 90th season. Max Bialystock is a fallen Broadway producer who teams up with his accountant, Leo Bloom, to create an epic flop of a musical so that they can keep all the money they've raised for a long production. A Hitler musical seems to be the best worst bet, but they learn one should never underestimate an audience. Will the bawdy bonhomie of Brooks be too much for the "family environment" of the Muny? That's up to the individual parents to decide, so be warned that there are some semi-graphic old-lady seductions, and the F-word is thrown about. No, not "finagle." But if you're mature enough to enjoy a little immature humor, you'll be all right. The Producers plays at 8:15 p.m. Monday through Sunday (June 16 through 22). Tickets are $9 to $64. Call 314-361-1900 or visit www.muny.org for more information.
June 16-22, 2008