Classic Mel Brooks

As the producer of “The Producers” at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Ed Sayles can realize the show the way he pleases.

That means capturing the classic comedic tone of Mel Brooks' 1968 film - not mimicking the Broadway formula that relegates the leads to the straight and comedic roles of Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, respectively.

“There's a real element of early TV comedy in this, right out of ‘The Honeymooners,'” Sayles said. “(Brooks) came from that old school.”