Razzle Dazzle/The Producers/Centre Stage (DVD)

Triple bill of dance-related feature films. 'Razzle Dazzle' (2007) is an Australian 'mockumentary' which looks at the yearly Sanosafe Dance Troupe Spectacular, a competition for young dancing teams. For the last few years, the competition has been won by Miss Elizabeth's dance school troupe. Miss Elizabeth (Jane Hall)'s methods are harsh: she has very high expectations of her students and thinks nothing of humiliating them if they don't come up to scratch. She has a low opinion of her competitors, particularly Mr. Jonathan (Ben Miller), but will the determination of his Jazzketeers to get one over on her pose a threat to her team's chances? 'The Producers' (2005) is a remake of the classic Mel Brooks comedy of the same name. Max Bialystock (Nathan Lane) and Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick), a scheming theatrical producer and his mousy assistant, hit upon a plan to embezzle a fortune: raise far more money than you need to produce a sure-fire Broadway flop and then (since no one will expect anything back) pocket the difference. To do this they need the ultimate bad play. Believing they have found this in 'Springtime for Hitler', the reaction to the staging of the musical may just surprise them. In 'Centre Stage' (2000) Peter Gallagher plays Jonathan Reeves, the artistic director of the American Ballet Company. Reeves has a collection of talented young students under his wing, but he knows they face a long struggle for success. As well as growing up and facing adulthood and the onset of relationships, the 12 students must learn to look out for themselves and survive in the competitive world of dance.