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‘The Producers’ produces rave reviews

“The Producers” is a musical that challenges the wordsmiths, who fall all over themselves trying to come up with superlatives for their rave reviews. “The Producers" is a cast-iron, copper-bottomed, superduper, mammoth old-time Broadway hit,” said the “New York Post.” One reviewer even ran out of adjectives to describe how great the show is and appealed to readers for help in telling how wonderful it is: “The Producers” is a rip-roaring, gut-busting, rib- tickling, knee-slapping, aisle-rolling (insert your own compound adjective here) good time,” said “Variety.” The rave reviews follow this show wherever it’s produced. In London “The Independent” called the show an “epidemic of bliss” and a “love letter to old Broadway.” No need to bring your Thesaurus to the Springer for their production of “The Producers,” opening Thursday. Just come prepared to laugh like you’ve never laughed before. Skeptical that the show could be this good? Consider the evidence:

• “The Producers” won a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards, winning in every category for which it was nominated. • When it opened in New York, “The Producers” broke the record for the largest single day box-office in theatre history, taking in more than $3 million. • When the shows original stars (Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick) reprised their roles for a short four-month run, the show's sales then broke its own record with over $3.5 million in single day ticket sales.

Need more evidence of rave abundance?:

• “It puts the comedy back into musical comedy,” said “The Guardian” • “The funniest show in the universe,” said WhatsOnStage.com.

Mel Brooks, the comedy genius who wrote “The Producers,” is a musical theatre treasure, one of the few people who’ve won the Grand Slam of creative awards, winning Tony, Emmy, Oscar and Grammy awards. He’s the comedy mastermind and creator of “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein” and many more movies universally acclaimed as the funniest movies ever. Although “The Producers” features a large and very talented cast singers, dancers and comic actors, the show is in many ways a two-man tour de farce. The Springer’s production stars two actors that have previously left patrons of the State Theatre of Georgia guffawing and gasping for breath. Robert Briscoe Evans (Max Bialystock) knocked audiences silly in last spring’s “The Odd Couple” at the Springer as Oscar Madison. And Casey Ross, who’s playing Leo Bloom, has just wowed audiences with both his comic and singing skills in “Lend Me a Tenor,” playing Max, the theatre assistant who is forced to take the world-famous opera singer’s place in “Othello.” Both are Los Angeles-based actors. From New York is returning actor Maggie Politi, who dazzled with her dance skills in “Footloose” at the Springer several seasons ago, but didn’t get a chance to demonstrate how deft she is portraying daffy. As might assume from a character named Ulla Inga Hansen Benson Yansen Tallen Hallen Svaden Swanson, it is a role that gives Politi plenty of comic opportunities but it is also a chance for her to again share her amazing dance skills with Columbus audiences. “The Producers” runs at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays for the next three weeks (Feb. 26-28, March 5-7 and March 12-14) and at 2:30 Sunday, March 8. For tickets or more information, 706-327-3688 or springeroperahouse.org.