5.0 out of 5 stars
An unbelieveable show...., April 30, 2005
This review is from: Groucho: A Life In Revue [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I had the good fortune to see this show at the Majestic Theatre in Boston on October 23, 2004 (Gummo's Birthday!). I sat in the 4th row and it was a treat! It was like seeing the Great Man himself. Ferrante's Groucho is dead-on accurate, and you just get completely drawn into the show watching him. I have the video, and it's terrific.
Ferrante is a great ad-libber. My show was during the first game of the World Series between the Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals. He was aware of the baseball fever sweeping Beantown, and in Groucho character, kept us all updated on the score of the game!!! He ad-libbed about the game all night, keeping the audience in stitches....hilarious.
The format is very simple: It's Groucho telling his life story to you, the audience, and the way Ferrante tranforms himself into Groucho at various ages is fabulous. Get the video to see what I mean.
It's a trip down memory lane of jokes, songs, with funny (and touching) moments in Groucho's life. You will laugh your butt off and I dare you not to shed a tear as "Groucho" reflects on his life, and the memories of his brothers Chico and Harpo.
I will admit I was teary-eyed during those moments in the theater, and you will be while watching the tape. And you will scream with laughter just as much too.
I will be purchasing the DVD soon, and it has got to be just as good as the tape, if not better. Get this one, and if you get a chance to see the show....GO!!!! You won't be disappointed, either way. It's the closest you will ever get to see a Marx Brothers show and I got the feeling that night in the theater the Marxes were looking down over us, laughing along too....
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Please release this on DVD, January 30, 2005
This review is from: Groucho: A Life In Revue [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Frank Ferrante is the only Groucho impersonator authorized by Groucho Marx's heirs. He's also a talented actor, because "Groucho:A Life in Revue" requires some serious acting ability. Groucho's entire life is condensed into little more than an hour, and Ferrante is more than up to the challenge of playing Groucho at every stage of his career, from vaudeville to his classic films to TV and old age. Physically, Ferrante isn't a dead ringer for Groucho Marx, but it's his acting ability that makes us believe we are really watching Groucho in the filmed version of the stage show.
I sincerely hope this VHS is reissued, with suitable extras, on DVD. It does not deserve to languish in VHS Limbo.
A couple of trivia notes: Gabe Kaplan performed virtually the same Groucho Revue both onstage and on an HBO special years before Ferrante; Ferrante does it far, far better than Gabe. Secondly, a slightly shorter version of the VHS is occassionally aired on PBS.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT TAKE ON MARX BROTHERS, December 17, 2002
This review is from: Groucho: A Life In Revue [VHS] (VHS Tape)
What a special show. Frank Ferrante is Groucho. Ferrante plays Groucho in his youth, middle age and old age and captures him well every time. The entire history of the Marx brothers is captured by this revue featuring Ferrante and characters portraying Harpo ( some ) Chico and various women in his life. This is a very specialitem and is highly recommended.
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