What: Room Service, a 1937 Broadway hit that was soon made into a Marx Bros. movie
Where: Talley Student Center
When: Tuesday, Feb 13th at 8:00 pm
Cost: Free!
Full synopsis here.

From the University Theatre website:

Quote :

"In the mold of great wise-cracking farces such as The Front Page and the film Bringing Up Baby, Room Service offers a whirlwind tour of the lengths to which a zany band of director, producer, playwright, and a huge cast of actors go to bring a new play to theatrical light in New York City. Chase the February blues away with laughter at the hijinks of this madcap troupe who are truly one sandwich shy of a picnic. One of the most-frequently revived of the thirties’ screwball comedies. "

Regular showings:
February 14th-17th, 2007 AT 8 PM
February 18th at 3 PM
Tickets: $5 students, $16 for general public

[Edited on February 12, 2007 at 6:57 AM. Reason : They usually do really high-quality productions. ]

2/12/2007 6:49:11 AM

It was made into a Marx Brothers movie, all right, and Lucille Ball was in it, too.

It was the only Marx Brothers movie ever made without material written specifically for the Marx Brothers.

It is one of the worst Marx Brothers movies, and only marginally better than the late MGM stuff because Louis Mayer hated the Marx Brothers and wouldn't give them a penny to road show their material before doing a film.

That's not to say it's a bad play, but don't go in expecting some whip-smart, mile a minute comedy genius.

[Edited on February 12, 2007 at 8:06 AM. Reason : 6]

2/12/2007 8:04:04 AM

I'm not enough of a Marx Bros. fan to really know the difference, but that's excellent trivial pursuit knowledge.
Anyway, I figure it's still worth a couple hours of my night. What else would I do? Homework?

2/12/2007 8:12:49 AM

Good point. I've never seen the play, but from what I understand the movie is pretty faithful, and it's your standard late '30s comedy. Good, but not MARX good. I just didn't want anybody getting the wrong idea.

2/12/2007 8:16:48 AM

No worries, it was a productive comment

2/12/2007 8:18:36 AM

Is this the one that Cory is in?

2/12/2007 8:51:40 AM

I will agree that University Theatre has very good production values.

2/12/2007 8:55:48 AM

Yep:

Quote :

"Cast in order of Appearance GEORGIA MILLER…………………… Kelly McConkey SASHA SMIRNOFF…………………...Scott Heath* JOSEPH GRIBBLE…….…….……......R. Cory Livengood* HARRIET BINION……………………..Brittany Halverstadt FAKER ENGLUND…………………….L. Adam Rogers CHRISTINE MARLOWE……………. ..Jacqueline Mae Byrne LEO DAVIS…….…………………......Steven Rausch* HILDA MANNEY……………………..Caroline Seabrook* WILHELMINA WAGNER……….........Sydney Hunt* SIMONE JENKINS………………........Elyse Smith TIMOTHY HOGARTH……..……........Andrew Mitchell DR. GLASS……………………….....Rob Wilson BANK MESSENGER…………… ......Laura-Nelle Parnell SENATOR BLAKE……………….. ....Matthew Downing * Indicates member of Alpha Psi Omega Honorary Theatre Fraternity"

2/12/2007 9:05:47 AM

Speaking of Joseph Gribble, I had no idea he was played on King of the Hill by Breckin Meyer.

2/12/2007 9:12:04 AM

wtfjosephgribble

2/12/2007 9:28:38 AM

he was played by brittany murphy early in the series, iirc

2/12/2007 10:11:03 AM

Thinking back, that sounds right.

Good times.

2/12/2007 10:12:57 AM

Im there for Free Tuesday!

2/13/2007 2:25:16 AM

dammit if i had seen this i would have tried to make it

i think i like the marx version a little more than vinylbandit up there, but yeah it ain't as good as anything before day at the races

actually i think that after zeppo left is when i mark the decline, although "opera" and "races" are held as classics

i do like night in casablanca okay though

2/14/2007 2:52:05 PM

bump
Go support Cory! Two more showings this weekend.

2/17/2007 3:50:31 PM