slightly OT: "I'll Say She Is" Marx Bros 1924 show

[BenModel]

I've seen the reading of this reconstructed show during Marxfest in NYC in May and the new production running this month during the Int'l Fringe Festival and was very impressed with the work and authenticity. The show is hilarious and a revelation in a number of ways. I'm posting a link here as I imagine a majority of the folks on this forum are Marx Bros. fans.

I'LL SAY SHE IS is the 1924 Broadway show/revue that took the Marx Brothers from being vaudeville stars to Broadway stars, and has not been seen since its original production. Sort of a 'missing link' in the Marx canon, it contains many routines we all only know from the later films as well as its infamous Napoleon sketch. The show has been lovingly resurrected and reconstructed by Noah Diamond (who plays Groucho) and directed by Vaudeville scholar/performer Trav S.D.

The show has 5 performances during the Fringe fest (today's is already sold out) and there's more info and ticket links on the website for the show at illsaysheis.com.

Ben

[Rollo Treadway]

This sounds most mouth-watering indeed. For those of us who can't be there, I trust the shows will be recorded for posterity?

In 1970, Groucho himself returned to the show when recording his segment of the all-star animated TV extravaganza The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians. Groucho did the Napoleon scene from I'll Say She Is, and my hunch is that this was his own suggestion. Chico and Zeppo were voiced by Paul Frees.

[Wm. Charles Morrow]

I saw the reconstructed I’ll Say She Is last night, and enjoyed it a lot. The whole cast approached the material in the proper wacky spirit. From the first number it was clear that everyone involved “got it,” and even the chorus girls were in on the joke. We were chortling before the Marx Brothers arrived on the scene. I thought all the performers were fine, but Noah Diamond was exceptional as Groucho. He talked, moved, and sang like Groucho, and really drove the show. It was a packed house, the crowd was stoked, and there were many laughs throughout. Nice auditorium too, newly renovated. I see the last performance tomorrow night is sold out. I don’t know if any sort of recording is planned, but I do hope the people producing this can take it to the next level: a longer run, bigger budget, etc. We shall see. Meanwhile, a fun evening!

[Wm. Charles Morrow]

I guess no one has mentioned it -- possibly in another thread I missed? -- but this show has returned to NYC in a bigger production, just as I hoped it would two years ago. For the past few weeks I'll Say She Is has been playing at the Connelly Theater in the East Village. Reviews have been positive, and tickets sales have been robust; so robust, in fact, that I almost missed my chance to go! Extra performances have been added for the 4th of July weekend, so I'll be seeing it one week from today. Afterwards, I'll report back on how it goes.

[Wm. Charles Morrow]

I was really looking forward to today’s matinee, but woke up to some unhappy news: at last night’s performance, Seth Shelden (who plays Harpo) fractured his foot in two places. He’ll be off his feet for a long while to come, and had no understudy, so both of today’s performances have been cancelled. Those of us who had tickets will receive refunds.

Obviously this is a disappointment, but what’s important here is Mr. Shelden’s complete and speedy recovery. There’s already talk of bringing back this iteration of I’ll Say She Is later this year or next, and if that happens, I’ll be there.

P.S. This does cause me to wonder whether the actual Marx Brothers ever suffered any injuries on stage. The act was pretty rowdy in the early, vaudeville days, so I’d be surprised if they all came through totally unscathed.

[Robert Moulton]

Well, seeing as you brought it up, this book answers all these questions and more. Comes out in just a few months, order now!