I purchased excellent tickets for Producers for my husband and 25 year old daughter who were spending a few days in NYC; I have not seen it myself but from everything I had read it seemed like a sure bet, sort of a "must see" on Broadway;

well, they said they almost left half way through; they stayed and told me they did not understand what all the fuss was about, they were not impressed.

Of course, since I'm the one who bought the tickets and sent them there, I am perplexed; are they crazy for not loving it ?

No, you and they are not crazy...though you all are probably in a small minority.
Still, speaking as one who loved the show, I really don't think it's crime not to like it. (Hey, I hated Annie. Does that make me a bad person?) The unfortunate part is that you spent your money to treat them to the show and they didn't like it.

I saw it April '03 and thought it VG.
Full disclosure: my former spouse of nearly 28 years was a Busby Berkeley "fanatic".
M

Thanks for your replies; I got more feedback on their views this morning and I understand a bit better why they were not wowed ......
they admired the decor and acting but the homophobic nature of the scenario is not something that amuses us that much anymore or makes us burst out laughing......

We loved La Cage aux Folles but that is a classic in its genre-

Whoa......"the homophobic nature of the scenario"? The "scenario" is hardly homophobic....if anything, the story is the exact opposite. Could you mean your family's attitudes?

We saw it last summer. I was expecting not to like it, but was very pleasantly surprised. It was very good. Fun, funny. It is typical Mel Brooks humor (Blazing Saddles) and not everyone relates to that. It is rather irreverant and knocks everybody. They had a few blatant gay scenes but were mostly tasteful. But there are many sexual referances, both hetero and homo. But mostly "poking" fun (like my pun?). But like I said, not for everyone.

Sorry that they walked out. That is very disappointing when you have given someone a gift, that they choose to show you in such an obvious way how much they don't like it. I think I would have stuck it out, just to be polite. Can't imagine it was that bad.

Good arguement for thoroughly researching something before you buy. You must have known that they were sensitive to this kind of humor? Can save much money in the future. Lesson learned, post here BEFORE you buy the tickets.

Did they see any other productions while there?

I didn't like it. Not because I was offended. Just because I thought it was corny and overdone.

Are you sure they went to see The Producers??? Calling it homophobic is an odd reason to dislike it since it is a farce or satirical piece. The central plot is a show glorifying Hitler, for heaven's sake, so that should be the tip off that it isn't time to be earnest and just enjoy the farce and satire.

Homophobic? Considering Nathan Lane, one of Broadways biggest flamers, won a Tony for his reprisal makes me think your family saw another show.

I am so totally lost about this homophobic nature of the scenario. Doesn't make sense to me.
Even tho I didn't see the play on Broadway, I did see the touring show at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, and I was certainly entertained.
After the show, all of the actors were outside taking up donations for Aids research to which we contributed.

You must remember that Mel Brooks wrote the original movie with Zero Mostel...and his reason for writing was to make fun of Hitler and the Nazis, to ridicule them. We saw the play in Boston last year and thought it was brilliant ( Lane was not in it) and during the second act when they do a Buzby Berkeley bit with the Nazis dancing in the shape of a swatstika we gasped..it was so outrageous and so Mel Brooks. If you listened closely you hear Mel Brooks reciting a line during the show. As the way a few gays were portrayed it was as over the top as the rest of the play.. Perhaps your daughter and your husband did not understand where Mel Brooks was coming from and had not seen his movie which is a classic or perhaps or could appreciate his wild satire of Hitler and the Nazis... Normally I don't pay that high a price to see theatre, but it was worth every single cent.

You acted out of kindness; they didn't like it. Focus on the good you tried to do rather than the recipient's displeasure.

Maybe when homophobic was typed, the word intended was homocentric.

Anyway, The Producers closed several months early in Toronto, where audiences did not go home and tell their friends they should buy tickets, too.

BAK

Let's face it, if you've never seen a musical production with a number like, "Springtime for Hitler," then you might be offended enough to walk out.

I thought the show was ok, but couldn't understand the "wow" factor from so many people. I think 42nd st. is still a "wow" show. The Producers and Chicago were not.

There is no law everyone has to enjoy everything -- just leave seats for the rest of us who loved it.

BUT - homophobic??? That is simply nutty. Maybe they wanted to do something else in the city and just told you that ;-)

Mel Brooks...what can I say..when the movie "Blazing Saddles" came out, I thought it was hilarious.

My sister, on the other hand, left the movie and thought it was horrible.

Just goes to show we all like different things, don't we?

I saw the Producers and enjoyed it but was not overwhelmed. There are other shows I liked a lot better, but then there are other shows I've seen that were a lot worse. I don't understand the "homophobic" remark but maybe I missed something.

I would probably not go to see the show because I saw the movie and realized that it wouldn't have been to my particular taste -- which runs to things that are less broad (as in wide and blatant, not as in female) humor, less over-the-top Brooks stuff (much as I loved Young Frankenstein), and less aren't-we-great-on-Broadway (despite the supposed anti-Broadway satire of the show).

I think there is a class of musicals that are most loved by those who frequent Broadway shows -- those shows that are so self-referential (word?) that you have to have experienced and loved a lot of Broadway fantasy to get their full impact. Chicago and Cage Aux Folles certainly fall into that category, while something like Chorus Line -- even though it was about Broadway -- had a tang that didn't require you to have been thrilled with the Big Shows to appreciate it.

When people come from out of town and go to see a Broadway Show, because they've heard that's the thing to do, they may not be ready for the way some shows present the world. Sometimes they're uncomfortable with the urbanity or ethnicity, sometimes the presence of sexuality in forms they don't approve of, sometimes the language, sometimes something else -- even something as simple as the decibel level.

I'm guessing your husband and daughter would have responded better to a less "in-joke" kind of show, possibly one of the Disney-based ones or, certainly, Movin' Out. But no, they aren't crazy for not loving Producers. You can have very good taste and not love the Producers. Still, I'm sorry you're out the money.

Maybe in this production they inflated that aspect, Antlori.
I remember one of my favorite novelas written by Thomas Mann, "A death in Venice." Mann said, it seemed (about the boy flirting with him in his mind)
In the film, directed by Visconti, a brilliant gay director, It was. so it's all interprutation. Two actors doing the same role always bring something new in aspect(or diminish)the role. But they both can be valid performances.

It would be a very boring world if we all liked the same thing. I did not care for The Lion King at all and millions obviously do .. so what .. it just proves we are all different which is a very good thing I thought The Producers was funny - a little over the top perhaps but funny just the same.