It provides a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of the Marx Brothers and their relationship with their mother Minnie Marx, the driving force behind their ultimate success.
Production
There was a long preview period lasting for sixty-four performances, during which the creators constantly tinkered with the troubled show. The original choreographer, Patricia Birch, was replaced and "...there were rumors about replacing Shelley Winters..." The musical had mixed to negative reviews, "although Walter Kerr...enjoyed it."[1]
The score's song "Mama, a Rainbow" has become a standard for cabaret performers,[5] and was recorded by Steve Lawrence and Jim Nabors soon after the show opened. In the show, the song is performed by Harpo,[6] whose screen and stage persona was always silent.
An original cast album was released by Project Three Records, although the cast album was originally scheduled to be recorded and released by RCA Victor.[7]
Groucho Marx received a playbill credit as the show's advisor; after the show closed, it was revealed that Groucho had made no real contributions, and had basically been paid off so that he would not raise any legal objections to the production.
During its brief run, Groucho did help promote the musical by appearing on the Dick Cavett Show with Shelley Winters and the five young actors who portrayed the Marx boys in the show.[8]
