London Musicals 1995-1999.pub - Over The Footlights

ANIMAL CRACKERS
1998
45
London run: Barbican outdoors, June 19 th – July 11 th
Music & Lyrics: Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby
Additional songs: Chris Jordan
Book: George S. Kaufman & Morrie Ryskind
Director: Emil Wolk & Gregory Hersov
Choreographer: Susan Swanton
Musical Director: Chris Jordan
Producer: Royal Exchange, Manchester
Cast: Ben Keaton (Captain Spaulding “Groucho),
Toby Sedgewick (Professor “Harpo”),
Joseph Alessi (Ravelli “Chico”),
Jean Challis (Mrs Rittenhouse),
Sue Holland (Mrs Van Damme), Sarah Redmond,
Warren Kimmell, Nicholas Khan, James Smith,
Miltos Yerolemou, Gail Ghislaine Sixsmith
Songs: (From the Original score): Hooray for Captain Spalding, Hello I Must Be Going, Who’s Been Listening to
My Heart, Long Island Low-Down, Go Places and Do Things, Watching the Clouds Roll By, When Things are
Bright and Rosy, Cool Off, Four of the Three Musketeers
Story: The famous explorer, Captain Geoffrey T. Spaulding, is attending the unveiling of a statue at the mansion
of society matron Mrs. Rittenhouse, but a rival society hostess, Mrs Van Damme is anxious to have the Captain
attend one of her own parties. Meantime, a valuable painting goes missing, and the Captain is asked to investigate.
Notes: This basic plot was nothing more than an excuse for Groucho and the other Marx Brothers to indulge in
their crazy farcical routines in between some musical numbers. The original production opened on Broadway in
October 1928, and ran for 191 performances. It was filmed in 1930, with most of the songs cut out, and became one
of the Marx Brothers’ most enduring hits. The original score contained nine songs. This was a touring production,
playing in a circus-type tent which was a temporary home to the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre following its
bombing by the IRA. This same production would return to a legitimate theatre – the Lyric – in March 1999, where
it would run for 70 performances.
WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND
London run: Aldwych, July 1 st , (1,044 Performances)
Photo by Ivan Kyncl
Marcus Lovett as The Man & Lottie Mayor as Swallow