Forum - Gabe Kaplan as Groucho"Why A Duck?" @ marx-brothers.org |
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Forum - Gabe Kaplan as Groucho"Why A Duck?" @ marx-brothers.org |
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| Author | Topic: Gabe Kaplan as Groucho |
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Neil Probert
unregistered |
posted 17 August 1998 10:57 AM
Back in July, 1983 I saw the one-man play at a local dinner theater in Calgary, Alberta called "Groucho". It was written by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher. Gabe Kaplan starred as Groucho and Robert B. Hegyes, who also starred with Kaplan on "Welcome Back, Kotter" TV show, had a small part as Chico. Does anyone know if this play was ever recorded and broadcast on TV. It was an excellant play and would be worth seeing again. The play followed the rise of the Marx Brothers in Vaudeville and movies and continued through Groucho's radio and TV career and included his later years. Sally Spencer played a female reporter who every so often would ask Groucho questions. There was no mention of Erin Flemming in the play, but then it was written by Arthur Marx in the late 1970's, and he had every reason in the world not to include her.
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mike
Cabinet Minister Posts: 8
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posted 17 August 1998 02:47 PM
several years ago I attended a remake of the musical the cocoanuts in washington dc. the show was a huge sucess. during the show i took some flash photos of the curtain call. i probably didn't need the flash as the stage lights were bright. i was nabbed by the house manager who confiscated my film, developed it and sent me the shots that were not from the show. ahh, if i only didn't use the flash. well, if you can call that a good time! |
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Franko
Grand Exalted Imperial Almighty Omnipotent Stomper Posts: 114
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posted 17 August 1998 03:21 PM
I'm pretty sure this is the same one I saw on television around the same time, but I know nothing about it. Also at the time, I thought Gabe Kaplan was a pretty good Groucho, but I don't think I'd say so today. I think he was more of a Groucho caricature than a bona fide impersonator. On the other hand, I'd love to see the show again. As I recall, the writing was quite good. Frank |
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Ray
Big Cheese Posts: 51
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posted 20 August 1998 11:27 AM
Is this the same as Groucho A Life in Revue? I saw the play in London with Frank Ferrante and met him afterwards ..great guy |
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Neil Probert
unregistered |
posted 21 August 1998 12:40 AM
I do not know if the "Groucho" play that I saw and the play "Groucho - A Life in Revue" are one and the same plays, but does anyone know if either of these two plays have had their scripts published and if they are available anywhere? It would be very interesting to read these. Also, is the play "Minnie's Boys" available in print? |
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Dan Fahlgren
Big Cheese Posts: 60
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posted 22 August 1998 01:21 PM
I also saw the Kaplan as Groucho Show at Triton College inRiver Grove, IL in 1985 or '86. I t was available on videotape from J2 Communications, 10850 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1000 Los Angeles, CA 90024. (1982) This video features Michael Tucci as Chico. I don't know if it's still available, I bought my copy used from a local video store. It's not bad, but like Franko said, Kaplan plays more of a caricature of Groucho, than a n impersonation. The video indicates the show was written by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher Hail FReedonia! Dan |
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Mark Petty
Big Cheese Posts: 14
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posted 23 August 1998 11:16 PM
I've got "Groucho" on VHS. It was broadcast (narrowcast?) by HBO in 1982. This later developed into "Groucho: A Life In Revue". The shows are similar but not exactly the same. There is an oblique reference to Erin Fleming in this show. My videotape runs around 77 minutes (sometimes it just runs around the house). The story about the restricted swimming pool is included - the punch line refers to Groucho's son, although I've also heard this story with "daughter" in the punch line. Which one (son/daughter) is correct? If the answer is "daughter", which one? Do we know what year this happened? The show is taped in front of a live audience, apparently in real-time (in other words, no editing). There are efforts to pronounce Chico as "Chicko", but sometimes a "Cheeko" slips through. This show includes "re-creations" of Flywheel and of You Bet Your Life. In this case Chico is the contestant on YBYL (never really happened). This is called "artistic license". (No wait, this is called "Larry".) I've also got an Entertainment Tonight report (3 - 4 minutes) where Arthur Marx praises Gabe Kaplan and credits him with improving the show. I can think of one Marxist who bad-mouthed this show in print. One recent Marx book actually pretends that the early (Kaplan) incarnation of this play never existed! I realize that Gabe Kaplan is not a letter-perfect impersonator of Groucho, but I for one (or two) enjoyed this show. Thanks for giving me an excuse to dig through boxes of hundreds of videotapes so I could watch this again. |
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melisso
Cabinet Minister Posts: 9
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posted 24 August 1998 09:33 PM
In reference to the swimming pool story, I believe that happened with his son Arthur when he wanted to join the YMCA (I'm not sure if that was the right club, but I'm certain it was with Arthur). Is that the same incident that resulted in the line "I wouldn't belong to any club that would have me as a member?" |
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Mark Petty
Big Cheese Posts: 14
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posted 09 September 1998 09:56 PM
It is not important, but the restricted swimming pool was not in the YMCA, nor is this the incident that brought about the "I wouldn't belong..." wisecrack. Some additional trivial notes about the Gabe Kaplan VHS:
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