This is a solid recommendation of a new DVD that's due out in late March. There are many people in this world who imitate Groucho Marx and usually, it doesn't go much beyond walking like their tie's caught in their fly, plus they mime a cigar and wiggle eyebrows that look like they have friction tape on them. An amazing exception is Frank Ferrante, who's been criss-crossing America for many years now, usually with one of two Groucho shows. Groucho: A Life in Revue is a small play written by Arthur Marx (Groucho's son) and Bob Fisher. It's quite funny, though sad near the end, and you may have seen it years ago, in person or on Showtime, with Gabe Kaplan. Marx and Fisher have revamped it a few times, and the version taped for PBS, starring Ferrante, is even better.
This is what's finally coming out on DVD and you can pre-order it here. I suggest you do.
At other times, Ferrante appears in An Evening With Groucho, which is an even smaller play (just him and a piano player) which has yet to be recorded for PBS or DVD or any kind of commercial release, as far as I know. If you want to see it, you'll have to go see him live — as I did, a few years ago. Over on his website, he has a list of where he'll be Grouchoing, and it really is a must-see performance. I've never seen an impersonator climb so totally inside the guy he's doing. He even ad-libs up to Groucho standards.
This post was inspired by this one over on Gary Sassaman's weblog. As you'll see, he raves about Frank the way I rave about Frank. And if you can't trust two Marx Brothers freaks, who can you trust?