Minnies Boys

[PIPPIN 423]

Posted: 11/12/10 at 6:19pm

Does anyone remember a long forgottn musical called Minnies Boys?
It starred Shelley Winters as Minnie Marx. It had such a good score but was never released on cd. This would be a good show to revive. Really uplifting and fun.

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 11/12/10 at 7:24pm

Actually it has been on CD, although it may be out of print.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/12/10 at 9:59pm

I saw it and as I remember some of the songs on the recording were not in the final show . Supposedly Totie Fields was up for Minnie but for some reason Groucho nixed it.

It was very enjoyable but other than Stadlen who played Groucho none of the rest really did anything after. Daniel Fortus who played Harpo was in another flop Molly .

I hope this gets re issued as I only have the LP. I loaned the CD out & never got it back. You can get it at Amazon but the price is prohibitive.

Updated On: 11/12/10 at 09:59 PM

[alterego]

Posted: 11/12/10 at 10:08pm

I'd buy the CD (BK?).

[Jon]

Posted: 11/12/10 at 11:44pm

I know that tha father's song, "Empty", is not in the licensed script.

It's a weak script, and it REALLY takes liberties with the facts. They have the five boys as all teenagers at the beginning, when in reality, Zeppo was about 10 years younger than the others. By the time Zeppo joined the act, he was around 20 and the others were around 30. Logically, he should be played by a child for the first part of the show.

[After Eight]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 12:29am

It was a so-so show in which Shelley Winters appeared somewhat ill at ease. There were some funny numbers, though.

The show was presented by the Musicals in Mufti a few years back, and they did a good job with it. The material just isn't first rate.

[wildcat]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 1:21am

I've heard a recording of Kaye Ballard doing a production with most of the original cast as the brothers and the script was so flimsy as to be almost non-existent, especially in Act Two.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 5:52am

I think there are some great songs in the score, having heard the LP. I've never seen the show on stage.

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 5:30pm

I have the CD and must admit that I listen to it fairly often. Great overture and the one stand out song, Mama, a Rainbow.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 5:39pm

What about "You Remind Me Of You" & "Where Was I When They Past Out Luck"?

[goldenboy]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 5:59pm

It is on CD as I own it.

I saw the original production and I listen to the cast album a lot. It has great songs and a magnificent overture. A couple of clinkers (Rich is, Empty) but the great ones make up for the clinkers. (Where was I when they passed out luck, Minnies Boys,
Mama a Rainbow etc)

Walter Kerr in his review of the show said and I paraphrase
but use quotations anyway
"the damn fools got the hardest part right." Meaning the Marx Brothers were excellently portrayed by Irwin Pearl (who went on do to Fiddler on the roof Revival) Danny Fortus ( who did Molly but died an early death) Lewis J Stadlen. They nailed it.
They were dead on in there portrayal and hysterically funny.
And that was the hardest part Kerr was talking about.

The story was so convuluted it just didn't make sense and unfortuneately book trouble can sink a musical. (Mack and Mabel)
(Baker;s Wife to name a few)

And when it's called Minnie's Boy,it has to be about Minnie and they had a method actress who couldn't sing. Shelly Winters
was funny as she waddled through the role but she was out of her element, She played a role that was a typical stage mother but nowhere as interesting as Mama Rose.


It would need a major rewrite and restructuring. It also needs a plot something that also seems to be missing. Something other than she has four nudnick sons that have no redeeming features.
But oh my god.. they are funny. And they become famous. That was the plot.

It is one of the flops I adore listening too. As is Henry Sweet Henry.

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 6:18pm

Henry Sweet Henry is also one that I listen to, alot! Alice Playton was terrific, Nobody Steps on Kafritz another standout -another fun overture. Oh the memories. Actually saw Minnie's Boys twice, what was I thinking??

[alterego]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 8:11pm

Goldenboy, you think Rich Is is a clinker?

[After Eight]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 8:18pm

I like "Rich Is." Also the overture and title song to "Henry, Sweet Henry."

I agree with you, FrontRowCenter: "Oh, the memories."

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 8:40pm

Loved Rich Is & hated Empty