Animal Crackers at the Goodman Theater
Oct. 20th, 2009 02:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aviv_b_artworkI saw this several weeks ago, but am just now getting around to posting on it.
I was sure I was going to dislike, if not hate this production. I am a huge Marx Brothers fan and didn't think a stage version of the play that became a musical (now becoming a play again) could be successfully done without turning it into a parody of itself.
I was wrong! This was a brilliant production. And considering that the last few musical productions I've seen at the Goodman were pretty lackluster, the energy and enthusiasm the entire cast displayed was amazing.
The standout performance had to be Joey Slotnick playing Groucho Marx playing Captain Jeffrey T Spaulding. He had Groucho's looks, movements and speech down perfectly and managed to inject some additional humor into some of the old tired jokes.
His main foil, Ora Jones playing Margaret Dumont playing Mrs. Rittenhouse didn't look anything like Dumont but her speech and mannerisms were so well done that she really became the part. The comic timing between her and Slotnick was flawless.
Jonathan Brody as Chico Marx playing Emanuel Ravelli was excellent though his part was smaller. He had the earnest intensity (not to mention the accent) of the character nailed.
The most difficult role fell to Molly Brennan playing Harpo Marx playing The Professor. This nonspeaking role is essentially mime/clowning - a tough gig to pull off under the best of circumstances. She did a remarkable job with the material not shying away from the physicality that is always present in the Marx Brothers.
The songs and the dancing were well done and the energy level didn't flag at all during the performance. What really impressed me was how well the whole ensemble worked as a whole. Anyone who watches improve or comedy sketch work (SNL anyone?) knows that great scenes are easily ruined by poor timing. I only noticed one exchange that seemed a tiny bit off - and in a almost 3 hour production, that's saying something.
I only have one serious problem with the play. I saw it three weeks ago and I still can't get the song 'Hooray for Captain Spaulding' out of my head!!
Posted with comments at the MarxBrothers Community: http://community.livejournal.com/marxbrothers/29086.html
I was sure I was going to dislike, if not hate this production. I am a huge Marx Brothers fan and didn't think a stage version of the play that became a musical (now becoming a play again) could be successfully done without turning it into a parody of itself.
I was wrong! This was a brilliant production. And considering that the last few musical productions I've seen at the Goodman were pretty lackluster, the energy and enthusiasm the entire cast displayed was amazing.
The standout performance had to be Joey Slotnick playing Groucho Marx playing Captain Jeffrey T Spaulding. He had Groucho's looks, movements and speech down perfectly and managed to inject some additional humor into some of the old tired jokes.
His main foil, Ora Jones playing Margaret Dumont playing Mrs. Rittenhouse didn't look anything like Dumont but her speech and mannerisms were so well done that she really became the part. The comic timing between her and Slotnick was flawless.
Jonathan Brody as Chico Marx playing Emanuel Ravelli was excellent though his part was smaller. He had the earnest intensity (not to mention the accent) of the character nailed.
The most difficult role fell to Molly Brennan playing Harpo Marx playing The Professor. This nonspeaking role is essentially mime/clowning - a tough gig to pull off under the best of circumstances. She did a remarkable job with the material not shying away from the physicality that is always present in the Marx Brothers.
The songs and the dancing were well done and the energy level didn't flag at all during the performance. What really impressed me was how well the whole ensemble worked as a whole. Anyone who watches improve or comedy sketch work (SNL anyone?) knows that great scenes are easily ruined by poor timing. I only noticed one exchange that seemed a tiny bit off - and in a almost 3 hour production, that's saying something.
I only have one serious problem with the play. I saw it three weeks ago and I still can't get the song 'Hooray for Captain Spaulding' out of my head!!
Posted with comments at the MarxBrothers Community: http://community.livejournal.com/marxbrothers/29086.html
