Should you want any insight to the methods of comic mastermind Mel Brooks, look no further than "The Producers."

In an outsize career spanning every genre and several entertainment eras, the 1968 film that spawned a megahit musical and then a more modest film again in 2005, "The Producers" stands as his most enduring work.

At the 2001 Tony Awards, "The Producers" took home 12 awards, winning every category for which it was nominated. Brooks won for the book he co-wrote with Thomas Meehan and the score he wrote himself.

In the faithful, often hysterical production opening the 61st Music Circus season, everything Brooks holds dear is on display. There is nothing politically correct about him.

Sex is usually close to Brooks' heart in a snickering kind of way. He did start his career in the '50s as a stand-up comedian in the Catskills, which is about as old-school as you can get. In Brooks' mind, there's nothing funnier than a guy ogling a woman who's bending over – and you can't count how many times it happens in "The Producers."

Brooks also believes you can't be too outrageous in pursuit of a joke, and the premise of this story and extreme characterizations in it are proof.

The musical satirizes Broadway with the story of two producers contriving to put on the worst show ever. They are Broadway veteran Max Bialystock (the reliable Bob Amaral) and newcomer Leo Bloom (Matt Loehr).

Amaral has the wonderful comic timing that gets laughs with just a look, while Loehr shows both a great physical dexterity and a beautifully emotive singing voice. They hire the statuesque Ulla (Sarah Cornell) for office scenery, and away they go.

With creative accounting, they figure they'll make more money with a flop than a hit. Setting the stage for the disaster, the two root out the worst play ever, a musical called "Springtime for Hitler."

Bill Nolte nearly steals the show as Franz Liebkind, "Springtime's" fascist-leaning author, in "Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop."

To seal their plan, the producers also hire the worst director possible, Gary Beach's beaming Roger DeBris. Beach won a Tony for his portrayal of DeBris on Broadway and his sumptuous version here is a delight.

The beauty Beach achieves with Roger's belief in himself takes the character far beyond the flaming stereotype the role could easily be.

Michael Paternostro is also delightful as Carmen Ghia, Roger's flamboyant "common-law assistant."

Director Glenn Casale expertly stages the complex production numbers and numerous set changes, never letting the show's pacing lag. Dan Mojica skillfully choreographed the clever dances.

Brooks won an Oscar for the 1968 screenplay of "The Producers," in part for a flagrant disregard for anything resembling good taste. Such is the genius of Brooks. He makes you cringe and laugh at nearly the same time.

THE PRODUCERS

4 stars

What: The Music Circus production of the Mel Brooks musical comedy

Where: The Wells Fargo Pavilion, 1419 H St., Sacramento

When: Continues 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. today and Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Sunday (last show)

Tickets: $42-$74; youth tickets for ages 4-17 start at $30

Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes including one intermission

Information: (916) 557-1999 or www.tickets.com.

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Call The Bee's Marcus Crowder, (916) 321-1120.

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