Mel Brooks musical goes dark

Photo: Sean Cullen as Max Bialystock, Sarah Cornell as Ulla and Michael Therriault as Leo Bloom in the Toronto production of The Producers, which will close Sept. 5.

TORONTO -- The Producers will end its run at the Canon Theatre in Toronto on Sept. 5, it was announced  The Mel Brooks musical has been a smash hit on Broadway, and the Toronto version began Nov. 21 with Sean Cullen, Michael Therriault and Sarah Cornell in the lead roles. "We've had a wonderful six-month run thus far and want to make sure the engagement's final three months are as heavily attended as the show's initial performances,'' said theatre impresario David Mirvish. "It is a common problem with shows viewed to have an open-ended run that audiences assume there is no rush to see the performance immediately,'' Mirvish said. ``Audiences believe the show will be here next year and the year after.'' The show recently received 13 nominations for the Dora Awards, the city's top theatre prize.

Love pleads guilty

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Rock star Courtney Love pleaded guilty  to a misdemeanour count of being under the influence of a controlled substance and agreed to enter a drug rehabilitation program. "Guilty," Love said softly when the judge asked for her plea. Love, 39, also answered "Yes" several times when asked if she understood the terms of the plea agreement. Sentencing was set for July 16. Assistant City Attorney Jerry Baik told reporters that the rehabilitation effort will last several months and is an outpatient program that includes classes, counselling and probably random drug testing. At the end of the program, Love may petition to have the case dismissed. If she fails the drug program, she could be sentenced to at least 90 days in jail. The count to which she pleaded involved cocaine and other opiates found in her system. A count of disorderly conduct will most likely be dismissed at sentencing, Baik said. Love, in a lilac sweater, floral print dress and teal high heels, was low key compared to recent court hearings, including a rambling speech in the women's bathroom after a court appearance in New York earlier this month. On Monday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg had to ask her to speak up. Love separately faces felony charges in Beverly Hills, where she has pleaded not guilty to illegally possessing prescription painkillers. She could face up to three years and eight months in prison if convicted in that case. The two cases stemmed from encounters with police on the same night last October. Love was initially arrested after allegedly trying to break into the home of a former boyfriend. After being released, officers responding to a call from Love, went to her home and she gave them a small bag of pills, according to a police officer's testimony. On May 13, Love was arraigned in New York on charges of assault and reckless endangerment for allegedly hitting a fan with a microphone stand at a club in March.

Simmons goes free

PHOENIX (AP) -- An assault charge against exercise guru Richard Simmons, who was accused of slapping a man at an airport, has been dropped. Simmons, the outlandish 55-year-old known for his exercise videos, was accused of slapping a six-foot-two, 250-pound ultimate cage fighter, reportedly in retaliation for a sarcastic remark. The fellow passenger recognized Simmons in March at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport as they were waiting for a flight to Los Angeles, then made an offhand comment to other passengers about Simmons's exercise videos, police said. Simmons took exception and slapped the passenger, who was not injured but chose to press charges, police said. Simmons was cited for misdemeanour assault and then permitted to board his flight. The cage wrestler, identified as Christopher Farney, agreed to drop the misdemeanour charge against Simmons, according to court documents filed May 19. The documents didn't specify why the charge was dropped.

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