Le monde des musicals

Cocoanuts se déroule dans l'hôtel Cocoanut, un hôtel de villégiature, pendant le boom des terres en Floride des années 1920 . M. Hammer dirige l'endroit, assisté de Jamison, qui préfère dormir à la réception plutôt que de l'aider à le gérer. Chico et Harpo arrivent avec des bagages vides, qu'ils prévoient apparemment de remplir en volant et en escroquantles invités. Mme Potter est l'une des rares clientes payantes. Sa fille Polly est amoureuse du jeune architecte en difficulté Bob Adams mais cete relation est considérée comme totalement inadmissible par sa mère autoritaire. Il travaille pour subvenir à ses besoins en tant que commis à l'hôtel, mais a des plans pour le développement de toute la zone en tant que Cocoanut Manor. Mme Potter veut que sa fille épouse Harvey Yate, qu'elle croit être d'un statut social plus élevé que Bob Adams. Ce prétendant est en fait un escroc qui cherche à voler le collier de diamants de la douairière avec l'aide de son partenaire de connivence Penelope, mais ils ne sont pas les seuls à y penser. Quand le collier disparaît enfin, le vol est reproché au petit ami. Son innocence est finalement prouvée lorsque les vrais escrocs sont confondus, et les amants reçoivent la bénédiction maternelle.

The Cocoanuts was written for the Marx Brothers after the success of their hit Broadway revue I'll Say She Is (1924). The Cocoanuts is set against the backdrop of the 1920s Florida Land Boom des, which was followed by the inevitable bust. Groucho is a hotel proprietor, land impresario, and con man, assisted and hampered by two inept grifters, Chico and Harpo, and the ultra-rational hotel assistant, Zeppo. Groucho pursues a wealthy dowager ripe for a swindle, played by the dignified Margaret Dumont.

Produced by Sam H. Harris, the musical was given a tryout in Boston on October 26, 1925, then Philadelphia. The Broadway run opened at the Lyric Theatre on December 8, 1925 and closed on August 7, 1926 after 276 performances. The production was directed by Oscar Eagle, with musical staging by Sammy Lee.

After the Broadway closing, the brothers took the show on tour. On June 10, 1926, four new songs and other changes were introduced in the show. The new version, referred to as the "1926 Summer Edition", featured the Brox Sisters, who sang the songs originally assigned to the character of Penelope.[1]

A brief Broadway revival played at the Century Theatre from May 16, 1927 to May 28, 1927 with the same creative team. The more famous film adaptation was released by Paramount Pictures in 1929, soon after the addition of synchronized sound permitted talking movies.

Act 1
Opening: The Guests - Jamison, Cocoanut Grove Girls, Boys
Opening: The Bellhops - Eddie, 16 Stepping Bellhops
Family Reputation - Polly, Cocoanut Grove Beauties
Lucky Boy - Bob, Boys
Why Am I a Hit with the Ladies? - Schlemmer, Girls
A Little Bungalow - Bob, Polly, Cocoanut Grove Boys and Girls
A Little Bungalow (reprise) - Schlemmer
Florida by the Sea - Jamison, Cocoanut Grove Boys and Girls
Monkey Doodle-Do - Frances Williams, Ensemble
Finale:
Lucky Boy (reprise)
A Little Bungalow (reprise) - The Entire Company

Act 2
Opening: Tea Dance - The Eight Teat Girls
Five O'Clock Tea - Cocoanut Grove Ensemble; specialty dance by Antonio and Nina de Marco
They're Blaming the Charleston - Frances Williams, Antonio and Nina de Marco, and Charleston Girls
We Should Care - Bob, Polly, Eddie, Speer, Ensemble
Minstrel Days - Penelope, Company
Specialty - De Marco Orchestra
Spain (Tango Melody) - Penelope; specialty dance by Antonio and Nina de Marco
The Tale of a Shirt - Hennessy, Company
piano specialty - Willie (Chico)
harp specialty - Silent Sam (Harpo)
Finale: A Little Bungalow (reprise) - Entire Company

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