Yesterday, I went to see Frank Ferrante do An Evening with Groucho in the afternoon. By my count, this is the eighth time I've seen him do this but that's fine because the show's a little different each performance — Frank varies the content plus there's all that improvisation with the audience. Even if it was the same show, I could watch him over and over.
I especially love the opening when he comes out as Frank and talks with the audience about what Groucho meant to his life as a point of personal inspiration. As he's doing this, he applies the last of his makeup — the eyebrows and 'stache — and then suddenly, the Italian guy disappears and there's Groucho. The audience always make a quiet, impressed gasp and it's like someone has made the late, great comedian appear before us.
And then he goes on being Groucho for the next 90 minutes or so. The folks yesterday who packed the place sure enjoyed it.
One was another point of personal inspiration in Frank's life: Hal Holbrook. Hal Holbrook, who just about invented the concept of playing a historical figure in a one-man show as a theatrical experience, was in the house and very approving. There was a lot of mutual admiration in the air. I was also gratified by the number of folks who came up to me, said they'd bought tickets because of this very blog and said, "You were right about Frank." It's always nice to be told you were right about anything.
This was Frank's last Groucho date until April, when he'll be in Palm Beach. When his entire 2015 schedule comes out, I'll let you know so you can go see him, enjoy his fine show and then write and tell me I'm right about him.