Young performers give their all for an outstanding show

Directed by Peter Corry, The Producers tells the story of Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his nerdy accountant Leo Bloom who plan to make themselves hugely rich by producing a show that will flop so badly they can run off with the money when the show closes after its opening night.

They believe ‘Springtime for Hitler’ is just the show they need to make their plan succeed, but it turns out to be so outrageously camp that it becomes a massive hit because the audience thinks it is a satire.

Every single member of the Summer Youth Musical Group has really put everything they’ve got into the show to make it a rip-roaring success. Considering they had just three weeks of intense rehearsals, they really deserve those standing ovations.

For a start, they all seem to be enjoying themselves immensely as they roll out a show full of great song and dance routines, bucket loads of humour and plenty of surprises.

The show also gives individual members of the cast the perfect opportunity to shine and show off their talents.

For a start, Aaron Kavanagh and Jamie Ewing pull off a fabulous double act as Bialystock and Bloom, with excellent vocal performances and delivery.

Ryan Greer’s performance of the over-the-top Franz Liebkind is simply laugh-out-loud fantastic, with facial expression and movement that just commands the stage.

Samuel Moore takes on the role of the flamboyant director Roger De Bris in true style and along with his ultra camp assistant Carmen Ghia - played magnificently by Jamie Johnston - they present a truly colourful duo.

Maria Sweeney admirably takes on the challenge of becoming a blond Swedish bombshell, and as well as some fine singing and dancing, has somehow mastered the pronunciation of her character’s name - Ulla Inga Hansen Benson Yansen Tallen Hallen Svaden Swanson - with considerable ease.

And providing even more hilarity - albeit dressed as an elderly spinster with the fabulous name of ‘Hold Me, Touch Me’ - is Matthew McConnell, who is just one of a game bunch of lads in the cast who queue up as old women to become Bialystock’s latest conquests in exchange for cash to fund his production.

All in all, this outrageously funny and truly professional show is a real credit to the talented Summer Youth Group and Peter Corry who brought it all together. Miss it at your peril!

The Producers runs at the Theatre at The Mill, Newtownabbey until Saturday, August 11. Tickets, priced from £9 are available from the box office on 028 9034 0202 or online at www.theatreatthemill.com

• See more pictures from the show’s opening night in this week’s Newtownabbey Times...