Entertainment

Chaplin on B’way: that’s Rich

It’s always fun, this time of year, to scan the credits of upcoming musicals to learn the names of the latest crop of suckers — I mean, investors! — about to try their luck on the Great White Way.

You often come across some interesting characters.

Case in point: The novice producers of “Chaplin, the Musical,” which starts previews Aug. 21 at the Ethel Barrymore.

Billed above the title are the Rich Entertainment Group and John and Claire Caudwell.

At first I thought the Rich Entertainment Group might be Frank Rich, now executive producer of HBO’s “Veep.” He was also, of course, the powerful drama critic of the Times for 15 years, though I’m not sure “Chaplin” would be the kind of thing with which he’d make his Broadway producing debut.

But a little digging revealed that Frank has nothing to do with the Rich Entertainment Group. The company is, in fact, a subsidiary of Rich’s, a family-owned company in Buffalo that makes frozen food, from pasta to pastries.

Annual sales: $3 billion.

Bob Rich Jr. (was a man more aptly named?) runs the company and, with his wife, Mindy, is a major backer of “Chaplin, the Musical.”

This may be the first time in theater history that a Broadway show was financed by frozen pizzas.

As for the Caudwells, they’re billionaires, too!

John Caudwell made his fortune selling mobile phones in England. He sold his company to Vodaphone several years ago for something like $500 million.

The Sunday Times of London puts his net worth at about $2.5 billion.

How did the Riches of Buffalo and the Caudwells of Stoke-on-Trent come across “Chaplin, the Musical”?

Well, Christopher Curtis, who wrote the score, used to play the piano at Chez Josephine, a restaurant on West 42nd Street. Curtis has been working on “Chaplin” for years, and whenever his boss, Jean Claude Baker, wasn’t paying attention, he’d play some of his “Chaplin” songs.

(If Baker noticed what Curtis was doing, he’d snap: “Oh, please! Play something people know, you idiot! Andrew Lloyd Webber! Edith Piaf!”)

The Riches and the Caudwells came to New York often to see shows and would dine at Chez Josephine. Both couples fell in love with Curtis and his songs and — voilà! — “Chaplin, the Musical” is on Broadway.

The Riches and the Caudwells are said to have put up about $4 million each.

That’s some tip for a piano player.

Says Baker, with a Gallic laugh: “I intend to sue Chris Curtis because I provided an environmental creativity space for ‘Chaplin, the Musical.’ The show is being produced by billionaires. Which is another reason to sue!”

The Riches and the Caudwells brought in Tom Meehan, who wrote “Hairspray” and “The Producers,” to rewrite Curtis’ script. A production source says they paid him “a small fortune.”

Oddly, though, they’re skimping on the costume budget, which I hear is a measly $100,000.

Are they getting the Charlie Chaplin costume from Walmart?

“Chaplin” had an out-of-town tryout earlier this year in La Jolla. The reviews were mixed, as was the buzz that came out of a group sales presentation last month. Advance ticket sales are just $500,000, production sources say.

No matter. The show has a robust financial cushion: frozen cinnamon buns.

After suffering through the disjointed “Into the Woods” and the infantile “Bring It On!” (God, how I’d love to push that pyramid of chirpy cheerleaders into the orchestra pit), what a pleasure it was to come across a Broadway show that’s absorbing, witty and touching.

Mike Tyson’s “The Undisputed Truth” is the best thing I’ve seen all summer.

I kid you not.

Tyson’s life has been one hell of a roller-coaster ride, and he tells it with panache. Sure, he has trouble pronouncing big words — as he himself cheerfully admits — but he says “motherf – – ker” and “bitch” with all the conviction of a great method actor.

He’s also an excellent mimic, delivering spot-on imitations of Don King and Mitch Green.

And how can you not love a show that settles scores, especially where Robin Givens is concerned? Tyson imitates her using her “phony white voice.”

He wraps up his show this weekend, so don’t miss it.

He’s my nominee for this year’s Special Tony Award.