Coyote Theater: Animal Crackers (As You Like It)

[cyrano]

Animal Crackers takes me back to being a kid again, but it's on a stage right in front of you so it's even better. Marx Brothers shows are ADD cinema, Vaudeville Plus, and this is no exception. All singing, all dancing, plus occasional juggling and unexpected acrobatics. There's a story in there somewhere, but it's a vehicle for goofing around and nobody really cares if it falls out for a while. Captain Spaulding is manic and overflowing with energy, as he has to be, but the whole cast races alongside him, and it's an admirable production. I laughed a lot, and I stood up for them at the end.

Last night was As You Like It--not enough for its own review, but just fine as a tagalong for this one. AYLI is a play where people do a lot of talking about love. In fact, usually they're just making clever wordplay about love. A little of that is funny, five acts less so. The cast is good in this one, though, and they carry the show through to the end.