The Producers Star Marc Antolin on Satirizing Fascism
The Producers, a musical comedy currently playing on the West End, uses satire to tackle fascism.
According to Marc Antolin, who plays Leo Bloom,
making fun of fascism is the best way to deal with it.
The show features a range of comedic elements, including a giant Nazi Bratwurst, stormtroopers, and antisemitic pigeons, all of which serve to
laugh at fascism, laugh at these people.
As Antolin notes, this approach is in line with a quote from Mel Brooks:
sometimes to make fun of these things is the best way to deal with it.
The show is a timely commentary on the dangers of fascism, and the power of comedy to challenge and subvert it.
Author's summary: Musical comedy tackles fascism.