NORTHERN comics Jason Manford and Ross Noble are the star names in this touring production of Mel Brooks's satire on the world of the Broadway musical, but the stellar turn comes from Cory English in this most American of shows.

English is playing nimble New York producer Max Bialystock, the short, stocky and slippery purveyor of a string of flop musicals, whose latest raft of terrible reviews drives him to hitch up with Manford's timid, comfort blanket-carrying accountant, Leo Bloom, to pull off Broadway's greatest scam.

Together they must put on the worst show ever; Bialystock will work his smarmy charms on his decrepit, octogenarian funding angels; Bloom will cook the books; the show will close and off they will go with their ill-gotten millions.

They even find the perfect play, Springtime For Hitler, penned by panda-eyed Noble's Fuhrer-loving, gun-toting, carrier pigeon-keeping former Nazi, Franz Liebkind; plus a notoriously dreadful director, Roger de Vris (a gloriously camp David Bedella); and an artless but pneumatically gorgeous Swedish wannabe showgirl, Ulla (a terrific Tiffany Graves).

What can possibly go right? Matthew White's production, for a start. English is a scream; Manford reveals a sweet singing tone and a nice line in understated comedy; Graves's Ulla repeatedly steals the show.

By comparison, Ross Noble and the noble art of acting are on less familiar terms. He just goes hell for lederhosen; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

The Producers, Leeds Grand Theatre, until Saturday, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Box office: 0844 848 2700 or at leedsgrandtheatre.com