The days of Vaudeville
take center stage as Mad Cow Theatre presents a nostalgic rendition of “Animal Crackers,” writes Matt Palm.
I’ll let Groucho Marx — as portrayed in “Animal Crackers” — kick things off.
“Well, all the jokes can’t be good,” he informs the audience from the stage of Orlando’s Mad Cow Theatre. And he’s definitely right. Although the musical comedy has been updated, some of this surely was funnier during the show’s Broadway run — back in 1928.
But, good news: There are more guffaws than groans in Mad Cow’s handsome production. The musical numbers are particularly effective, helped mightily by Crystal Edwards’ old-school choreography. Most important, the actors are committed to the show’s craziness — and as directed by Ron Schneider they maintain the necessary energy right to the last wisecrack.
That doesn’t mean “Animal Crackers” will be everyone’s cup of tea. As with Monty Python, you either buy into the loopy nonsense of the Marx Brothers or you don’t.
“Animal Crackers” is certainly loopy. The four brothers, who hit their showbiz peak in the 1920s and ’30s, starred in the stage show and subsequent film. So what you get at Mad Cow is actors channeling the Marx Brothers and playing their characters. Got it? If you’re confused now, wait until I sum up the plot.
Actually, let’s just say that in 1927 a valuable painting disappears during a fancy party, and mayhem ensues.
Each actor plays multiple roles, which suits the daffy atmosphere. Constance Blackmon Lee’s costumes are just swell, and William Elliott’s scenic design nicely evokes the Roaring Twenties. Musical director Robin Jensen’s tight three-piece band has just the right volume for the theater.
Karel K. Wright presides over this nonsense in glorious grande-dame mode. Jeffrey Todd Parrott takes full ownership of the eyebrow-waggling Groucho role and can even make you smile at an oldie like “One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I’ll never know.”
Chris Metz, Adam Scharf and Adam Reilly capture the spirit of the other Marxes, while giving their personas a selfknowing wink. And that’s really the biggest success here: “Animal Crackers” lets us roll our eyes at the stylized foibles of Vaudeville while warmheartedly paying tribute to their lasting influence on entertainment. mpalm@ orlandosentinel.com