GROUCHO MARX
 
ED HOOPMAN IS All Photos: © Nael Nacer 2011 “When Groucho’s onstage, ‘Animal’ crackles” “A marvelous performance” Press from Ed Hoopman’s acclaimed performance in “Animal Crackers” at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston, 2011 “As Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding, a.k.a. Groucho, Ed Hoopman scuttles and leers so entertainingly that I chafed each moment he was out of the spotlight. Given that Groucho’s persona remains so indelibly fixed in our memories, Hoopman faces the highest hurdle in “Animal Crackers,’’ and he clears it with room to spare.  Hoopman captures both the thrust-and-parry of Groucho’s verbal style and his complicated physical vocabulary. With that hunched, crablike posture, Groucho often seemed to be advancing and retreating at the same time, ever-aggressive and ever ready to run. So does Hoopman. But the moments that really crackle in “Animal Crackers’’ are when Hoopman does what Groucho did best: sow confusion with skull-imploding puns, pretzel logic, and dialogue that starts off innocently enough but soon spirals unto madness. So stop singing and let the man talk!” - Don Aucoin, Boston Globe “Ed Hoopman plays Groucho playing Capt. Spaulding with the self-satisfied swagger and expert timing.” - Daniel Gewertz, Boston Herald “The shenanigans start slow, but bring on Ed Hoopman’s loping, loose-kneed Groucho character, Captain Spaulding, cigar in hand, greasepaint moustache and leer in place, and let delirium, double entendre, and punnery rule.” - Carolyn Clay, Boston Phoenix  “As Groucho, Ed Hoopman (last at the Lyric in "The Importance of Being Earnest") perfectly embodies the funny man, from his patter to his walk. He delivers every one of Groucho’s zany monologues with aplomb and gets in some witty ad-libs. With Nael Nacer equally well cast as Chico, the two toss off some truly fine bits of insanity.” - Jennifer Bubriski EDGE Boston “He has Groucho’s resonate, nasal baritone down to a tee, he can caper and mince with the best of them, and the word play he slings ripples thrills throughout the crowd, whether they’re new or old to the hearer.” - Jason Rabin, Blast Magazine “Groucho (Ed Hoopman) had me at ‘Hello, I must be going’" - Nancy Grossman, BroadwayWorld.com “Ed Hoopman is sensational” - Beverly Creasey, Boston Arts Review “Ed Hoopman (Capt. Jeffrey T. Spaulding) is uncannily and amazingly like Groucho in intonation, facial expression, and gesture. It is really remarkable. Hoopman’s timing is perfect, his delivery is witty, and he duplicates Groucho’s persona entertainingly, without seeming mannered.” - Charles Munitz, Boston Arts Diary
With Nael Nacer as Chico and Alycia Sacco as Harpo