Leave your critical and logical faculties at home when you head for Cygnet Theatre\u2019s wild and woolly staging of the classic goofball Marx Brothers musical \u201cAnimal Crackers.\u201d<\/p>\n Most people know the 1930 film \u201cAnimal Crackers,\u201d a truncated version that cut most of the songs. Now, Cygnet Theatre recreates the era and brings back the brothers in Henry Wishcamper\u2019s stage adaptation of the original 1928 Broadway musical.<\/p>\n The show offers a paper-thin plot that exists for no other reason than to serve as a playpen for the zany Marx Brothers to play in, around and on. Nine actors play 22 characters; none of the plot makes much sense, and the show consists mostly of jokes \u2014 corny, clever, visual, punny, silly \u2014 you name it, this show delivers.<\/p>\n Set designer Sean Fanning contributes the physical space: the huge, fancy house of Mrs. Rittenhouse, who this evening is giving a party in honor of Capt. Jeffrey T. Spaulding (aka Groucho), a celebrated explorer recently returned from Africa. Also on the dance card is the unveiling of a valuable Beaugard painting newly acquired by Mrs. Rittenhouse.<\/p>\n For a public figure, Spaulding (played magnificently by Josh Odsess-Rubin) is a bit of an embarrassment, with his greasepaint mustache and eyebrows, stooped gait and willingness to skewer anybody or anything for a laugh. And there are plenty of characters around to make fun of.<\/p>\n Take Russell Garrett as Mrs. Rittenhouse\u2019s officious head butler Hives, who does a splendidly funny song \u2014 \u201cKeep Your Undershirt On\u201d \u2014 with Mrs. R at the top of the second act. Garrett also plays snooty western millionaire Roscoe W. Chandler, who turns out to have a deliciously low-class secret.<\/p>\n Mrs. Rittenhouse (played by Melinda Gilb with great humor and a full range of shocked expressions as the Brothers get more and more uncontrollable) is beginning to despair of marrying off daughter Arabella (Lauren King Thompson). \u201cI do wish you\u2019d take this more seriously,\u201d she says. \u201cHere you are a debutante. You\u2019ve been out two months and you aren\u2019t engaged to a single person.\u201d<\/p>\n Mom has gossip columnist Wally Winston (Chaz Feuerstine) in mind. Not a bad choice \u2014 he is pretty cute. He writes for Evening Traffic, the local rag, and is looking for a scandal to report on. He asks Arabella if she can contribute anything.<\/p>\n Also along for tonight\u2019s wild ride are Mrs. Whitehead (also played by Thompson) and her friend Grace Carpenter (Amy Perkins), who inexplicably want to ruin the party for Mrs. Rittenhouse. Jealousy, perhaps?<\/p>\n This brings us to the other major plot point: the painting that is unveiled is not real, but a faux Beaugard, setting off more hysteria, running around and even the arrival of police Sgt. Hennessy (Feuerstine) to investigate. Who could be responsible?<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t matter, really, but it\u2019s great fun to watch.<\/p>\n Samantha Wynn Greenstone\u2019s Harpo (with the fright wig) gets stuck with my least favorite comedy bit: the leg-in-lap bit, usually annoying Mrs. Rittenhouse, but me too after a while. But the scenes with the culinary hardware and with the harp almost make up for it.<\/p>\n Spencer Rowe\u2019s Emanuel Ravelli (Chico) is a good pianist with a bad Italian accent and a great deadpan delivery.<\/p>\n Bryan Banville\u2019s Zeppo, the youngest Marx brother, doesn\u2019t get much solo comedy to do, but as Groucho\u2019s assistant Horatius Jamison does get a hilarious turn at taking dictation from his loopy boss. And as John Parker, he gets to sing and dance (magnificently) with love interest Mary Stewart (Amy Perkins).<\/p>\n Russell Garrett\u2019s choreography is great fun, especially the timely ones like the tap duel between Arabella and Wally and a great Charleston-inflected number that also includes several other ensemble members. And talk about versatility \u2014 Garrett is also terrific as Hives and Chandler.<\/p>\n Jennifer Brawn Gittings has designed some gorgeous Flapper-era costumes to put under those Peter Herman wigs. Kyle Montgomery\u2019s lighting and Dylan Nielsen\u2019s sound are excellent as well.<\/p>\n Another first: The six-man orchestra is onstage rather than in the pit. It\u2019s lovely to see music director Terry O\u2019Donnell and his forces in front of us for a change.<\/p>\n But how can you do anything but giggle at deathless Groucho-isms like this: \u201cOne morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Irving Berlin was right. Hooray for Capt. Spaulding! How about Groucho for president? (Never mind that he died in 1977. A mere detail.)<\/p>\n![\"\u2018Animal](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/web-MAIN-Standing-Bryan-Banville-Spencer-Rowe-Josh-Odsess-Rubin.-Sitting-Samantha-Wynn-Greenstone-Melinda-Gilb.-Photo-by-Daren-Scott.jpg\")
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There\u2019s just one problem with this show: At a runtime of two hours 20 minutes, it\u2019s too long, and the second act seems to drag to the point of inspiring watch-watching.<\/p>\n