- The Marx Brothers - Animal Crackers
The zany Marx Brothers, Groucho, Chico and Harpo were described in their time as the maddest comics of them all. Animal Crackers is a delightful classic farce written by George S Kaufman that was a successful stage show before being adapted for the cinema in 1930. With the permission of George's daughter, Anne Kaufman-Schneider, a talented young undergraduate theatre company from Oxford University has recreated the original stage show.
The setting is a high society Long Island mansion, where the owner Mrs. Rittenhouse, (played by an elegant Jessie Burton), with her daughter Arabella (a young comedienne, Alice Eve) are giving a party with two special surprise treats in store for her invited guests. She is hosting the celebrated Captain Spalding alias Groucho Marx, who is a noted African jungle explorer, with twirling moustache and cigar in hand. She is also going to unveil a famous and priceless new sculpture - (which, incidentally, in the film was an oil painting).
There then follows episodes of mistaken identity, romantic interludes, intrigue and song and dance numbers including the hilarious "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" - which all adds up to a ridiculous but witty musical comedy. Farce is certainly the word for this crazy, wacky, knockabout, slapstick show, full of many well-known Marx Brothers puns and gags.
Spaulding (Groucho) talking to Mrs. Whitehead and Mrs. Rittenhouse:
"Well what do you say girls? What do you say. Are we all gonna get married?"
Mrs. Rittenhouse - "all of us"
Spaulding - "All of us!"
Mrs. Rittenhouse - But that's bigamy.
Spaulding - Yes and that 's big o' me too. It's big of all of us....
The pace of delivery and the speed of the action are brilliantly directed by Sam Leifer, who also plays Hives the Butler. The young cast, average age of around 21, appear far more mature in both years and dramatic experience. James Wilton, who is also appearing in the Oxford Review, is a born comedian and his perfect impersonation of Groucho Marx never falls into pastiche or parody.
Chico and Harpo, performed by Johnny Lewsley and Andy King also express that genuine appreciation and passion for the original actors and the trio are continually watchable as they charge about the stage causing complete havoc at this stylish house party. The cast of thirteen are all equally strong and I think in a few years time we shall be seeing more of James Wilton, Jessie Burton and Alice Eve. The production is assisted with excellent live musical accompaniment, good lighting and quality costumes and set.
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