‘Springtime for Hitler’ comes to Russia
Published 24 April, 2009, 13:24
A musical featuring the most evil man in history singing and dancing has arrived in Russia. Will camp satire of fascism be as successful in Moscow as on Broadway?
Take the worst play on earth, written by a coo-coo Neo-Nazi named Franz Liebkind. Then choose the ‘worst director of his generation,' preferably a homosexual. Now, get the most terrible actors you can think of, and as much money as possible for the upcoming production. Mix all these ingredients together, and stage just one performance. Then go flop, take all the money raised and run!
The perfect plan created by producer Max Bialystock and accountant Leo Bloom was supposed to work, but it didn’t. ‘Springtime for Hitler’ turned out to be a hit, and theater-goers died laughing at Hitler singing “Heil Myself”.
So did millions of people worldwide, when they watched 'The Producers' from Mel Brooks.
The American director, writer, producer, composer, and comedian of Jewish origin, Brooks wrote and directed his famous comedy in 1968. A number-one national hit, it brought Brooks an Oscar for the screenplay.
In 2001, the then 75-year-old entertainer brought his musical from the screen onto the Broadway stage, and picked up 12 Tony Awards. Since then, 'The Producers' have been performed in many countries around the world, including Britain, Italy, Spain, Japan, Sweden, and Israel, where Hitler even spoke Hebrew.
In May 2009, 'The Producers' will finally premiere in Berlin, where promotion of Nazi symbols such as the swastika are banned, and had to be removed from advertising posters of the Broadway musical.
Russian producer David Smelyansky, and actor/director Aleksander Kalyagin have been looking for many years to stage 'The Producers' in the country that won the victory over fascism. And after four years of talks with the rights owners, the deal was finally reached.
In an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily, David Smelyansky said that he also had fears over how the production featuring Hitler would be perceived in Russia.
“For America and Europe, this is one story, but for Russia – a completely different matter. If only because of the number of people killed in WW2. But my fears lasted only until I learned that the musical was a huge success in Israel. Representatives of the nationality that has survived the Holocaust have accepted the performance, and so did the press. I think the same will happen in Russia. The attitude to this topic in the performance is filled with sarcasm, irony, and humor. Carl Marx was once quoted as saying that ‘while laughing, mankind says good-bye to its past’. Russian poet Voznesensky added that ‘laughing at ourselves, we get rid of rubbish'," says Smelyansky.
According to Russian singer/actor Maxim Leonidov who plays Max Bialystock, “like in any good story – it doesn’t matter at all where and when its characters lived. It doesn’t matter either that the story focuses on two Jewish producers from New York. Their story of their ups and downs perfectly fits our times. It could happen anywhere in the world, including Moscow.”
Leonidov says, actors can only dream of playing in 'The Producers.'
Valeria Paikova, RT
discuss it
