TURNING Mel Brooks’ film into a stage show was an inspired move, as was David Tatnall’s decision to direct it. Tatnall and Shaun Dodimead give hilariously impressive performances as Max Bialystock and Leopold Bloom, scheming to make money by producing a ‘can’t fail to fail’ Broadway musical and pocketing the old grey ‘angels’ investments. With Hitler’s Germany the politically-incorrect theme, they feel sure the audiences would shun it but the critics love it and the plan backfires. I couldn’t take my eyes off Mark Ponsford (Roger de Bris) and Mark Johnson (Carmen Ghia), a wonderful double-act, Adam Case was a revelation as Franz Leibkind and Lucy Whiteman played leggy love-interest Ulla. Louise Hodson’s exuberant choreography energised the all- singing, all-dancing cast with Fiona Wilshire’s quartet provided the lively music. With great costumes and minimal props (loved the pigeons!), the focus was firmly on the players and they delivered as riotous a performance as their regular audience eagerly anticipated.

Alan Johns