Act 1

Spring in New York, 1959. Former “King of Broadway” Max Bialystock’s latest show is a disaster! As the audience exit the theatre they proclaim that his musical Funny Boy, a musical version of Hamlet is “The Worst Show in Town”. While moping in his office, Max is visited by his accountant Leo Bloom, who poses a little academic accounting theory while checking Max’s finances for “Funny Boy”. He suggests that “a producer could make more money with a flop than with a hit!” With a scheme forming in Max’s mind, he tries to convince Leo to join him in finding the worst show ever written, directed by the worst director in town and cast with the worst actors in New York. But Leo refuses and finds himself back at his accounting firm. Contemplating his “unhappy” existence, he daydreams about being a Broadway producer, which comes to life in front of his eyes, making him realise he’s more than just an accountant. He quits his job and joins up with Max, agreeing to help him with his theatrical flop. They search for the worst play ever written and find “Springtime for Hitler”, a disaster and “guaranteed-to-close-in-one-night beauty” written by a nutty neo-Nazi playwright and pigeon fancier named Franz Liebkind. After meeting with Franz, taking the Ziegfried oath and a verse of “Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop”, Max and Leo secure the rights to Springtime for Hitler. Their next stop is the townhouse of the worst director in town, Roger DeBris and his“common-law assistant” Carmen Ghia. Roger initially wants nothing to do with Springtime for Hitler, apparently… “World War Two? Too dark, too depressing”, so with the aid of his production team, Roger envisions a spectacular Tony winning musical so long as they“Keep it Gay!”. After securing a writer and director, Max and Leo return triumphant but are then visited by a Swedish bombshell, Ulla Inga Hansen Bensen Yonsen Tallen-Hallen Svaden Svanson who wants to audition for them… all over the office! They immediately hire her “as secretary – slash- receptionist” and cast her in the show. Next they need to raise the money, two million dollars, by launching himself into little old lady land in exchange for the finances. He does it and celebrates their forthcoming flop “Springtime for Hitler!”

Act 2

Max and Leo return to the office to find Ulla has “tidied-oop”. While Max leaves, Leo and Ulla become well acquainted and soon find themselves in more than a passionate embrace! Auditions for rotten actors begin and are run by Roger and his assistants as well as Franz. During one of the actors auditions Franz flips out, showing everyone how the song is supposed to be sung. Max hires Franz to play Hitler on the spot! On opening night Leo unwittingly curses the show by uttering the immortal words… “good luck”. After Franz, Roger and Carmen explain to Leo that “its bad luck it is to say good luck on opening night”, Franz then rushes to get ready for the show, but managed to trip and break his leg! “I broke my leg!” With only moment to go till curtain up, Roger steps in and fills Franz’s Nazi boots to play the campest Hitler ever to be seen on Broadway. After a spirited performance, the audience actually love the show – Disaster for Leo and Max! Now distraught at the thought of going to jail they begin to argue and are joined by Carmen and roger, as well as a gun toting Franz, hell bent on making Leo and Max pay for making fun of his beloved Hitler. In the mayhem that ensues, the police arrive and arrest Max and Franz, while Leo manages to be totally overlooked. Ulla then arrives to find Leo and the two million dollars and they make a break for Rio! While in Jail a “Betrayed” Max awaits trial and receives a postcard from Leo and Ulla cheerfully letting him know what a great time they’re having. However when in court they come to his aid but both Leo and Max are sentenced to five years in “Sing Sing” penitentiary. While in Sing Sing, Max and Leo put on their all singing and dancing, all convict production, “Prisoners of Love”. After being released early for “bringing joy and laughter into the hearts of the inmates” their next stop…Broadway! Back at the theatre where he flopped, Leo and Max’s Broadway version of “Prisoners of Love”is a reprised in all its glitzy glory starring Roger DeBris. Finally, Max and Leo are on top of the world and celebrating as Broadway’s most successful producers.

Director:  Alasdair Hawthorn

Musical Director: Andrew Salmond

Choreographer:  Margaret Carr