Review by Lanny Parks
Opening on Friday, September 14 at 8:00 at the Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theater in Chestertown is a chestnut of the Depression Era musical theater: Animal Crackers, that originally starred the four Marx Brothers and Margaret Dumont. This wildly popular show opened in late October of 1928, closed in April of 1929, and was reworked as a film in 1930 with its original stars.
The book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind tells the story of a party at the home of Mrs. Rittenhouse to honor her guest, the famous African explorer Captain Jeffrey Spaulding. The musical score by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby features such famous songs as “Three Little Words” and “Watching the Clouds Roll By.”
In 2009, Animal Crackers was adapted by Henry Wishcamper, who was the Artistic Director of the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. This is the version that has been brought to the Garfield stage by Director Jennifer Kafka Smith and her talented cast and crew.
If you were ever fortunate enough to see any of the Marx Brothers Radio Plays on any stage in Chestertown, you know that there could only be one actor who could be the living, breathing recreation of Groucho: our own Jim Landskroener. His voice, his timing, his delivery, and his actions bring the one and only Groucho back to life. His lovely wife Diane Landskroener makes her long overdue return to the stage as Mrs. Rittenhouse, the hostess whose party is ruined by the disappearance of a famous and valuable painting, and whose emotional unraveling occurs before our very eyes.
These main characters are supported by a stupendous ensemble. Bee Betley, as the repugnant reporter Wally Winston, is as suave and debonair as Clark Gable or Cary Grant ever were, and his dancing feet seem to be borrowed from Fred Astaire – and he can sing, too. The stoic Hives, a butler whose duties include a bit more than mollifying his ‘mistress’ Rittenhouse, is a spot-on performance by Brad Chaires. We know he can sing and act, but now we know he can dance as well. Dan Guidice as the painter who is trying to become recognized by this august and monied gathering brings a beautiful voice and a lack of self-confidence to his characterization of John Parker.
The ladies are well represented, too. Gretchen Sachse as Mary Stewart, John’s girlfriend and Wally’s photographer, sings with beauty and grace, and acts her role as the young ingenue in love with practiced ease. Natalie Lane, as Arabella Rittenhouse, sings and dances her way into Wally’s heart with her ‘insider‘ information, her flapper style, and her smart looks. The flagrant Madame Doucet is portrayed by Julie Lawence, calling to mind the femme fatales of the golden age of the silver screen. Mallory Westlund is perfect as the scheming neighbor Mrs. Whitehead, who has more in mind than spoiling the party.
As for the rest of the heretofore mentioned Marx Brothers, Zac Ryan as Emanuel Ravelli, originally played by Chico, and Harpo’s role of The Professor, played by Kirby Powell, bring slapstick and fast talk to the stage, just as they were meant to do.
Mike Heffron, Ian Ellison, Brianna Johnson, Robin Wood, MG Brosius, and Brooke Ezzo round out a perfect cast for the kind of mayhem only the Marx Brothers could have inspired.
Kudos as well to Kimberly Stevens for choreography that harkens back to the famous Busby Berkeley productions, to Michelle Sensenig for the musical accompaniment, Barbie Bedell and Kat O’Grady-Melton for costumes and make-up, and to everyone behind the scenes who made Jennifer Kafka Smith’s vision come to life on the Garfield Stage. This show is a gem. Don’t miss it.
Performances of Animal Crackers are scheduled for three weekends: September 14-16, September 21-23, and September 28-30, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for members of the US Military or seniors 65+ and $10 for students.
For more information or tickets visit garfieldcenter.org or call the GCA Box Office at 410-810-2060. The Garfield Center for the Arts is located at 210 High Street in Chestertown, Maryland.