I'll Say She Is

[Timmer]

Posted: 8/17/14 at 10:58pm

Has anyone been to see "I'll Say She Is"?

http://travsd.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/ill-say-she-is-opens-august-10-in-ny-international-fringe-festival/

I hope they take it on tour!

[macnyc]

Posted: 8/17/14 at 11:17pm

I posted my thought in the Fringe thread:

Just got back from I'll Say She Is, and I really enjoyed it. It's a recreation of the Marx Brother's first Broadway show, which had been largely lost. Filling in the missing parts has been a labor of love for the actor who portrays Groucho, Noah Diamond, and he is terrific. The other performances varied in quality, but it's really a fun romp, especially for Marx Brothers fans. The venue is beautiful, and the place was packed today, completely sold out. The show featured scantily clad chorus girls, a worthy Margaret Dumont portrayal, and a fun Harpo.

Edited to add: The beautiful venue is the newly renovated Sheen Center on Bleecker Street, specifically the Loretto Auditorium. What a nice facility! There's a black-box theater in there too.

[yfs]

Posted: 8/18/14 at 12:20am

It's killing me that I'm missing this -- I've always wanted to see it since reading Harpo's autobiography in the early '60s. I hope they do it again for longer!

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 8/18/14 at 7:25am

Here's a review from Time Out.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/18/14 at 9:45am

a worthy Margaret Dumont portrayal

Yay! She's a dear friend of mine.

[MartyO49]

Posted: 8/19/14 at 11:25am

Just saw it yesterday also and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a bare bones restaging of what was a lavish revue in 1924. A lot of reconstruction and scholarship went into this production as the songs don't really match up to the program online at Playbill Vault. Kudos to everyone & the director came out with a funny sign at the curtain call.."If You Want Scenery, Go to Indiego" ..a real treat for Marx brothers and fans of old musicals.

[macnyc]

Posted: 8/19/14 at 12:00pm

If anyone is interested in seeing the first scene as the Marx Brothers did it, it's on YouTube. Apparently, the musical act that they all imitate differed from night to night. In the recent production, it was Al Jolson.



Marx Brothers' I'll Say She Is

[Kad]

Posted: 8/19/14 at 12:13pm

Growl, you didn't include a link...
My thoughts mirror that reviewer. I wanted to like it more than I did; unfortunately, much of the chorus/ensemble is genuinely very weak- also, the long transitions (which are all done by one harried stage hand, often involving multiple trips) are pretty inexcusable.

Also, the material that supplements the lost material - and a good portion of the rediscovered material itself- is Marx Bros. schtick that's recognizable (the opening song to the Napoleon sketch, the highlight of the whole thing, is basically the same as "Hooray For Captain Spaulding / Hello, I Must Be Going").


Time Out: I'll Say She Is

Updated On: 8/19/14 at 12:13 PM

[Timmer]

Posted: 8/19/14 at 5:44pm

Yes, she's a friend of ours too.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 8/19/14 at 5:52pm

D'oh. Sorry. Thanks, KAD.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/21/14 at 12:46pm

Timmer - Really? We go back about 20 years. Had a wonderful time seeing her in May when I was in NYC. She's an absolute gem.

[Broadwayhunk]

Posted: 8/21/14 at 3:58pm

How cool, I thought she had died years ago.

[Timmer]

Posted: 8/23/14 at 11:45pm

I'll say she is.

Updated On: 8/24/14 at 11:45 PM

[Timmer]

Posted: 8/24/14 at 6:29pm

I'd love to see a real run, not just a few days at Marxfest then a few days at the Fringe Festival, but a real run, either on or off Broadway, then I'd love to see it tour.

[Timmer]

Posted: 8/28/14 at 8:44pm

Honk!

[Timmer]

Posted: 9/6/14 at 12:58pm

You can say that again...but will you?

[macnyc]

Posted: 4/14/16 at 4:54pm

Just wanted to bump this old thread up, because the show is back! I'm happy because Noah Diamond, who was terrific as Groucho in the Fringe version, is painting on the mustache again. It's at the Connelly Theater on East 4th Street starting at the end of May and playing until July 2. It's a fun, silly show and a must for Marx Brothers fans. I may make a repeat visit just to see Diamond.  There's a link at the site for tickets.

http://illsaysheis.com/

 

http://www.playbill.com/article/lost-marx-brothers-musical-will-be-seen-off-broadway

 
 

Updated On: 4/14/16 at 04:54 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/14/16 at 7:32pm

I was really hoping to make it up to catch the show, but unless a new job falls into my lap soon, it ain't gonna happen (though I just had a promising interview, so fingers crossed I'll get to see this and She Loves Me), but I've been receiving Kathy's updates and chatting with her about it and I'm just so thrilled for her.  We actually met when I was performing the role of Samovar in Hollywood/Ukraine and I wish I could return the favor by seeing her perform in this.  She's a HUGE Marx Brothers enthusiasts and friends with Harpo's grandson.  I love her to bits!

[macnyc]

Posted: 4/14/16 at 7:41pm

Did she play the part in the 2014 Fringe production?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/14/16 at 9:38pm

Yes, she was in the Fringe production.