THE much-anticipated UK tour of The Producers hit the Bristol Hippodrome stage last night, bringing with it some star names and all the razzle-dazzle of a West End Show.

The musical, based on the 1968 Mel Brooks movie of the same name, is the story of how a down-at-heel New York show producer and his naïve accountant stumble upon the idea that a really bad show – one that bombs on the first night - could set them up for life. And so ‘Springtime for Hitler’ is born. The show, however, proves to be a runaway success, and Max Bialystock is arrested for fraud while his erstwhile accountant and secretary run away to Brazil with the proceedings.

This is a much more glitzy version of The Producers than previous productions, and all the shimmer and sparkles suit the overt roles of ‘Worst Director in Town’ Roger de Bris, played by the gloriously camp David Bedella, and his inimitable sidekick, Carmen Ghia, played by Louis Spence, who is given ample opportunity to wow the audience with his jumps and twirls.

Jason Manford’s singing voice is a revelation and he pulled out all the stops to play a surprisingly good Leo Bloom – a role fulfilled in the 1967 film version by none other than the legendary Gene Wilder – but special credit really must go to the wonderful Cory English as the manic Max Bialystock, who really raised the bar, performance-wise, from start to finish but in particular with his frenzied rendition of ‘Betrayed’ in the second half. There seemed to be hardly a moment when he wasn’t on stage, and his New York accent never faltered for a second.

Phill Jupitus made for a particularly menacing Franz Liebkind, while Tiffany Graves had her fair share of scene-stealing moments as the shrill-voiced Ulla Inga Hanson Benson Yanson Tallen-Hallen Svadon-Swanson – not least with her scantily-clad rendition of If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It.

This production has all the elements you would expect to make it a sure-fire hit: spectacular costumes, a great set, super choreography, and not forgetting some big names to put bums on seats. However, the show itself is most definitely a ‘love it or hate it’ production, and I have to admit that as far as Mel Brooks’ humour is concerned – well, I’m afraid it passes me by somewhat. There were times when I was struggling to raise a smile, certainly towards the end of the first half, but judging by the belly laughs coming from my fellow audience members, I felt like it must have been me who was missing something.

So, I guess if you’re a fan of Mel Brooks’ work… ‘Don’t be stupid, be a smarty, come and join the Nazi Party!’ The Producers is on at the Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday, May 2. For further information, including performance times and ticket prices, please visit www.atgtickets.com