The Cocoanuts is a musical with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a book by George S. Kaufman, with additional text by Morrie Ryskind. The musical was written for the Marx Brothers. The Marx Brothers' second Broadway hit (after I'll Say She Is, 1924) is set against the backdrop of the 1920s Florida Land Boom, which was followed by the inevitable bust. Groucho is a hotel proprietor, land impresario and con man, assisted and hampered by the ver...
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The Cocoanuts is a musical with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a book by George S. Kaufman, with additional text by Morrie Ryskind. The musical was written for the Marx Brothers. The Marx Brothers' second Broadway hit (after I'll Say She Is, 1924) is set against the backdrop of the 1920s Florida Land Boom, which was followed by the inevitable bust. Groucho is a hotel proprietor, land impresario and con man, assisted and hampered by the very zany inept grifters, Chico and Harpo, and the ultra-rational hotel assistant, Zeppo. Groucho pursues a wealthy dowager ripe for a swindle, played by the dignified Margaret Dumont.
Produced by Sam H. Harris, the musical was given a tryout in Boston (October 26, 1925), and then Philadelphia. It then opened at the Lyric Theatre on December 8, 1925 and closed on August 7, 1926 after a run of 276 performances. The production was directed by Oscar Eagle, with musical staging by Sammy Lee. After the Broadway closing, the brothers took the show on...
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