Tacoma Musical Playhouse is on fire this season. With the down economy and other theaters cutting back, TMP has taken risks and opted to skimp on nothing. Not only is it the only community theater to front a pit orchestra, but it has shown serious twig and berries by staging a non musical. Earlier this season it staged Glorious, and now TMP has decided to stage The Producers, one of the most anticipated shows since Thoroughly Modern Millie.



The theater invested tens of thousands of dollars to stage the show in hopes audiences would respond with ticket sales and season subscriptions for next year. The gamble seems to have paid off. The show was solid, and the crowds were dense opening weekend.



This show by comedic icon Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan covers the story of a down-on-his luck Broadway producer, Max Bialystock, and his mild-mannered accountant, Leo Bloom, who figure out that they can make a boatload of money if they stage a flop. The plan is set in motion as they set out to stage a big stinker. But it fails to flop, even with the sure-to-offend “Springtime for Hitler” dance number. Along the way between scheme and limelight dream is an attack on all things Broadway.



Frank Kohel lands his gig as the producer. He is nuanced and hilarious and has a great set of pipes as does his partner in crime Scott Polovitch-Davis as his accountant.



But what makes this show is not just the quality of the leads and the great sets by Dori Conklin but also the solid choreography by TMP founder Jon Douglas Rake. I don’t often mention the dance numbers unless they fail to deliver. But I thought the moves were quality and well executed. The balance of the cast made the show work by pulling their weight.



Everything about this show is quality. But I have to say that the cast could have used a shot of Red Bull or something. Everyone seemed to drag just a bit too long in their lines and in their pauses. This might have been that it was opening weekend and the energy was low, but a spot of tea or latte would have changed that whole situation.



[Tacoma Musical Playhouse, through May 17, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, additional Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. on May 9 and 16, $18-$25, 7116 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.565.6867]