Written and
performed by Frank Ferrante
Directed by
Dreya Weber
Accompanist
Alex Wignall
Presented by
Jally Entertainment
Queanbeyan
Performing Arts Centre, November 22nd – 25th. 2016
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Frank
Ferrante claims to have performed this show more than 3000 times in more than
400 cities around the world. More remarkable then, that his performance remains
so fresh and engaging as he brings to life one of the more memorable performers
of the last century.
Groucho was
the most articulate and best known of the five Marx Brothers who achieved
world-wide fame through a succession of wacky films during the 40’s and 50’s. After the brothers stopped making films,
Groucho transitioned successfully into stage and television achieving considerable
success as a TV host, and celebrity guest.
However, you
don’t have to be a Marx Brothers enthusiast to enjoy “An Evening with Groucho”.
It‘s a class show which succeeds on the brilliance of Frank Ferrante, and its
sheer entertainment value.
The stage is
furnished with pieces which might have been sourced from the back lot of a film
studio. A velvet settee and lounge chair, an antique side table, some potted
palms and a Marx Brothers movie poster. Seated at the baby grand situated to
the side, accompanist and stooge, Alex Wignall , commences the show with a
short overture, until Frank Ferrante arrives on stage, dressed as …….himself.
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| Frank Ferrante as Groucho Marx |
He
introduces himself, offers a brief explanation of his life-long fascination
with Groucho, and begins to apply make-up, tousling his hair, adding thick
black eye-brows and finally the black slash across his top lip. His whole demeanour
changes as before our eyes he becomes, unmistakably, Groucho Marx.
Then
scampering around the stage, in that instantly recognisable Grouch Marx walk,
fires off a succession of shamefully corny
vaudeville songs like “Hello I Must be Going”,
“Hooray, Hooray, Hooray,” and of course, “Lydia the Tattooed Lady”. Between
songs, he talks in the first person as Groucho, to share reminiscences about
his brothers, and the films in which they appeared, as well as perform
hilarious excerpts from some of Groucho’s film routines.
Every so
often, as Groucho himself did, he engages unsuspecting audience members in wickedly
cheeky improvisations, his hilarious, lightning fast responses demonstrating
his total mastery of the quick wit associated with Groucho.
He
offers an affectionate tribute to film
co-star Margaret Dumont, and confides how such well known performers as Charlie
Chaplin, W.C.Fields, Ed Metcalf and even Gilbert and Sullivan, influenced his
comedic style, even surprising with a charming version of “Tit-Willow” from
“The Mikado”.
Throughout,
Adelaide pianist Alex Wignall provided skilful accompaniments to the songs, cheerfully
joined in the jokes, and even participated in a remarkable duet during which
Ferrante performed multiple push-ups on the baby grand.
“An Evening
with Groucho” is a tour-de-force performance by Frank Ferrante which is not
only hugely entertaining, but also a brilliant and affectionate reminder of the
comedic skills employed by entertainers
in the heydays of vaudeville.
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| Frank Ferrante as himself This review also appears in Australian Arts Review www.artsreview.com.au |