Quick wits spark 'Evening with Groucho'
"Say the magic woid."
And watch out for the duck!
If you remember these phrases, you enjoyed television in its early days.
In addition to his years in vaudeville, on stage and in the movies, Groucho Marx was the star of the TV show, "You Bet Your Life," which ran from 1950 to 1961 and was patterned after the radio show of the same name.
A duck would drop down with a cash reward if the contestant said the magic word pinned to the duck.
The show was the perfect platform for Groucho's quick wit and spot-on timing. His comedy never got old; it transcended time and social mores.
Frank Ferrante, an actor, director and playwright, is bringing his incomparable characterization of Groucho Marx to the Woodstock Opera House Saturday.
Groucho isn't the only person Ferrante has portrayed, but is certainly the most beloved.
Ferrante has performed in shows which cover the comedian's lifetime, but the show he took on the road previously, "An Evening with Groucho," covered the Groucho Marx of the 1920s and 1930s.
As a child, Ferrante became enamored of Groucho after seeing the film "Animal Crackers."
The fascination continues.
"In 1985, while a student at the University of Southern California, I created a one-man show based on Groucho for my senior project," Ferrante said.
"I called Arthur Marx, Groucho's son, and invited him to see the show. Groucho's daughter Miriam and Morrie Ryskind, who co-authored "Animal Crackers" and "A Night at the Opera," came with him," Ferrante said.
"Within a year I was performing off-Broadway in Arthur's salute to his father, 'Groucho: A Life in Revue.'"
The current "An Evening with Groucho," which takes Groucho from vaudeville to old age, was filmed for public television in 2001.
Ferrante confides that between 20 and 30 minutes of "An Evening with Groucho" are not words from the "horse's mouth" -- Ferrante creates these scenes and the narrative.
He feels such a connection with the style and humor of Groucho that he's comfortable adding his own anecdotes and one-liners.
"The more I do it (the character), the more familiar I feel."
Groucho was full of energy, a little dangerous and completely irreverent.
"He made fun of everything," Ferrante said.
In his show, Ferrante gives audiences highlights of the Groucho many have never seen. It gives the audience a chance to experience Groucho live -- with the greasepaint mustache, eyebrows and all.
Ferrante does recall a 94-year-old woman in the audience who had seen the Marx Brothers live on stage.
"In the same row was a 5-year-old boy. Both laughed at the same jokes at the same time," Ferrante said.
All tickets for "An Evening with Groucho" are $25. For tickets, call the Opera House box office at (815) 338-5300 or visit Web site www.woodstockoperahouse.com.
The Opera House is at 121 W. Van Buren St., on the Woodstock Square.
If you go
What: "An Evening with Groucho"
When: 8 p.m. Feb. 9
Where: Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St. on the Woodstock Square, Woodstock
Admission: All tickets are $25
Info: For tickets, call (815) 338-5300 or visit the Web site, www.woodstockoperahouse.com