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The Cocoanuts

At Cocoanut Manor, the service stinks but the gags are four-star in this Marx Brothers romp featuring an Irving Berlin score.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1920s
  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: No Special Cautions
  • Orchestra Size: Small/Combo

  • Performance Group:
  • Elementary School / Primary, Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, College Theatre / Student, Church / Religious Groups
The “plot” is really more of a series of opportunities for the Marx Brothers to let loose their particular brand of insanity. But, for the record: in the midst of the Florida land boom, Mr. Schlemmer (Groucho) is trying desperately to run Cococanut Manor (“This is Cocoanut Manor, no snow, no ice. Well, get some onions, that’ll make your ice water.”) and put the moves on the wealthy Mrs. Potter.

When Mrs. Potter’s necklace disappears, the suspects are drawn from Silent Sam (Harpo) and Willie (Chico), two vagabonds intent on stealing the hotel’s silverware, and a hotel clerk in love with Mrs. Potter’s daughter, Polly. More to the point, the show includes the classic “Why a Duck?” routine, and the classic auction scene.
REVIEWS:

"Full of snappy novelty numbers . . . everything works to do what old-fashioned musicals used to do - entertain."

New York Daily News

"This happy confection offers not only the resurrection of Groucho, Chico and Harpo, but also thw wit of George S. Kaufman and a score by Irving Berlin that includes the ever-green 'Always'"

The New York Times
Premiere Production: The Cocoanuts opened on Broadway on December 8, 1925 at the Lyric Theatre, where it ran for 218 performances, produced by Sam H. Harris.

Characters

  • Casting: 7M, 3F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
  • Chorus Size: Medium

  • JAMISON (ZEPPO)
    MRS. POTTER
    HARVEY YATES
    PENELOPE MARTYN
    POLLY POTTER
    ROBERT ADAMS
    HENRY W. SCHLEMMER (GROUCHO)
    WILLIE THE SHILL (CHICO)
    SILENT SAM (HARPO)
    HENNESSEY

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Perusal Material Shipped immediately. This is optional. Order Now

    1 x Libretto/Vocal Book
    1 x Piano Conductor Score

    		$24.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    20 x Libretto/Vocal Books
    2 x Piano Conductor Scores

    		$550.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 x Piano Conductor Score
    1 x Reed I (Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax)
    1 x Reed II (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Sax)
    1 x Violin
    1 x Trumpet
    1 x Bass (Doubling Tuba)
    1 x Percussion

    		$350.00 +$135.00/pm
    Lib/Vocal Book 10 Pack Shipped with (or after) Rehearsal Material. This is optional.

    10 x Libretto/Vocal Books

    		$50.00 +$50.00/pm

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