Animal Crackers to Open at the Goodman

It’s been 80 years since the Marx Brothers closed their musical hit Animal Crackers, the group’s third and final Broadway show, and moved forever from stage to screen. Revivals of Marx Brothers plays remain few and far between, perhaps because the group’s classic films have overshadowed their vaudeville origins, or perhaps because Minnie’s boys make for a tough act to follow.

Written by Broadway legends George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, Animal Crackers enjoyed a successful 1982 revival at Washington’s Arena Stage and played on the East Coast and West End in the early 90’s. But Chicago has yet to lend its goldmine of comedic talent to a stage production of the show — until now.

The Goodman’s production of Animal Crackers, which opens September 28, blends a roster of talents from both Chicago and New York. Native Chicago actor Joey Slotnick, of TV’s Boston Public and The Single Guy, will revive the famous Groucho Marx role of Captain Spaulding, though he’ll do it with his own unique spin (no figurative Groucho masks here). Molly Brennan, a powerhouse from Chicago’s 500 Clown troupe, will re-interpret the Harpo role of the Professor. Broadway actor Jonathan Brody, who recently appeared in Spamalot, revives Chico’s famous Emanuel Ravelli character, and Chicago stage vet Ed Kross plays the Zeppo role of Horatio Jamison.

The play follows the over-the-top mayhem that ensues when famous paintings go missing from an upper-crust Long Island estate during a party in honor of Groucho’s Captain Spaulding.

Mrs. Rittenhouse: Captain, this leaves me speechless.

Captain Spaulding: Well, see that you remain that way.

New York-based Henry Wishcamper, who recently assistant directed Steppenwolf’s August: Osage County on Broadway, directs. Wishcamper’s concept uses just 9 actors to play dozens of roles, upping the madcap antics factor.

Seems worth saving the date for pure fun that’s sure to be mixed with some skewering social satire. But maybe the date you save won’t be opening night. In a farcical twist worthy of the Marx Brothers, The Goodman has scheduled the opening of this play, both written and launched by Jews, about 22 minutes after the sun sets on Yom Kippur. This evening is usually set aside for breaking the 24-hour fast with a big family meal. Will the theater atone by providing a little nosh? Couldn’t hurt.