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Well, I saw him, and, though I had an idea who he was, I didn't connect the face
with the character, and he was quite a character off stage, too! So I watched the movie, and saw him play his harp, and it
was right then that I knew my life would soon change. I felt it instantly- not only was I enchanted, but deeply intrigued.
WHO was this silent character? Who was this almost angelic, childlike, mischevous, somewhat ethereal
man who could whistle like a bird, and steal my heart, though he's long gone from our midst? I just had to know, so I
looked him up on the internet- and there he was. I bought his autobiography, "Harpo Speaks," because I wanted to
know the man under the wig, who's eloquent silence had captured my heart.
Although I must admit I had
all the emotions of a starry eyed fan, I also felt more. My emotions were tempered with realism.
The Skit
Little did I know, the day I went into that chat room, I'd be writing the skit that landed me in Vaudeville, but there
I was, roleplaying as Harpo Marx, with the encouragement of the group owner, who loves the Marx Brothers. It wasn't a
happy time in that group, or the previous one Harpo and I were in, because not many interacted with us, but we made the best
of it. I played myself as well as Harpo, and, as I tell my friends, jokingly, "I'm NOT schitzo, there really are
two of me!" But anyway....
So "we" went to the 2nd group and set up house there, Harpo lived
with me, in a magical realm, similar to Avalon, which was protected by a magical mist. Harpo also had his own village, where
he recreated the Algonquin Hotel, a place which held many happy memories for him. Adjoining the hotel, he built the place
he often vacationed at, Neshobe Island, and later, he added his own golf course. In his village, he held tournaments and parties.
His brothers came by to join the tourneys, and we had lots of fun.
The sad part of it all was the lack
of interaction- I played all the parts, Harpo, his brothers, and myself, among the cast of characters I invented. Despite
the lack of visitors, it was this very thing that inspired me to create the story which led to the skit, which led me to the
happiest summer of my life.
One thing led to another, which affected his voice; he played it out. I wrote
it as I was typing, but something told me not to give many details. Then I got a wacky idea to do the actual skit in person,
and I knew just the place to do it...
But first, I needed a costume....
Magic and Costumes
Where else but a costume shop, would I get a wig and tophat? There were places online, but I wanted to see them in person.
Nobody had a coat like Harpo's, so I had to have one made. That came later.
So I went to this wonderful
place, and it was lucky I did- the tophat I found was the only callaspable one on the shelf. It didn't take me long to
figure out how to bend it like Harpo's hat. My first wig was red, but I liked the style better than the blonde ones. The
second wig was blonde, and I got it cut to look as much like his as possible. My third wig is the best style and most
comfortable.
A night or 2 before going to to the shop, I imagined the skit would have some magic in
it- afterall, he did have a magical coat, so I mentioned it to the woman who worked there. The store was also a magic shop,
it had lots of various supplies and instructional materials for stage magic. When i told the lady my idea, she said she'd
tell her husband, a stage magician, and see if he'd have any ideas for me. She liked what I told her, and said I had something
good there.
Little did I know what all this would be leading to.....
A few weeks after I talked to the woman, I met the magician, and found out he owned the store,
and the woman I had met was his wife, who worked there while he went to his regular job. He does magic in various places,
as well. By the time I had met him, he knew about my skit, and really liked it, too. He gave me some ideas, and we talked
for quite awhile. During one of our discussions, I learned he performed in a re-creation of Vaudeville, not far from the store.
I had planned on going to a show, so I could see his act, never suspecting the turn of events that would happen a few months
away.
The Arts Center
This wonderful place is really what gave me the confidence
to play Harpo in public. Throughout my life, I'd played various characters, all for fun, but never as a performance. I
decided to try the skit at the center's annual fundraiser, and soon got their permission. I'd been to this place before,
attended classes and social events. The director knew me a little, and, though she retired, she stayed on in another position.
She LOVED the idea of me playing Harpo, and one day, I came in, with my 2nd wig, to show her. She wanted me to play it
right there, at their nightly drop in time. I wasn't ready for that, but she gently encouraged me, offering to go in with
me to explain about Harpo and his brothers. So, in I went, minus the wig.
We talked to the young people
there, most hadn't heard of the Marx Brothers. I explained a little, too, and said I'd love to put the wig on and
play Harpo for them. I even got their help with a couple of my pantomimes. They said they wouldn't mind, so I did! They
loved it! I played it to the max, interacting with them, and getting lots of laughs. Harpo was an instant hit!
The next week, I brought the tophat and horn to the center, along with the wig. I didn't have the coat yet. Harpo came
to drop in night, and the director introduced him, telling them he couldn't talk, but talked with his horn, and through
gestures. We had a blast, but sometimes I had to talk to her, when she didn't understand my pantomimes. This confused
the kids, especially one, a couple of weeks later, but we got them to understand I was just playing a character, and sometimes
I came in as myself, so they'd know me, too.
It was also at this place that I met the lady who would
help me fix up the coat I bought at a thrift store a few weeks or so after my first appearance there as Harpo. We
met at a workshop she hosted. We've gotten to know each other a little since then. She also altered some pants for me,
trimed my wig a little, and has offered her services for free. Through her, I'd also meet a professional clown, who my
new friend told about me as Harpo. She wanted to meet me, and I hoped I would make another friend. After almost a year,
we finally met. She taught me a few things and gave me some ideas, though I don't see Harpo as a clown, and, due
to our differing opinions on that, because I don't consider him a clown, nor myself, she stopped teaching me and I lost
a potential friend, too. Awhile later, she did help me with transportation, and had a video made of my act, for me to
evaluate, which was done in the back of the store where she had given me some lessons. Seeing that video really helped
me see what others see and I am still amazed- I felt like I was watching him! Someday I hope to make another
video, this time in front of an audience. I also got help
from others I met there. This awesome center of creativity has become a launching pad for my new career. It was
the happiest spring of my life, leading into my happiest summer yet.
In June, the harp came, and, though
it's smaller than Harpo's was, it has a beautiful sound. Quickly I taught myself a song, though it wasn't the
one I had planned on playing, it came out better than my original idea. The arrangements are very simple, and could be better,
I feel, but people enjoy them anyway. I'll never be even half the musician Harpo was, but he'd been playing for many
years by the time he was 50.
In July, shortly before their fundraiser, I previewed the skit for them. By
then, I had my coat, and some great props, one of which was my best friend's idea. I got help making it, from him, as
well as the creative assistance from someone at the center, who was also the office manager. She also offers classes
in various crafts. She saw the skit, too, along with others, including a teen volunteer. They love my favorite prop, the one
I got help with. They helped me with other props, too. Everyone loves that one!
I'm glad they got to
know Harpo before the event; it helped me in my confidence to play him, as well as familiarizing them with who he was and
how he communicated. They knew he could really talk, but wouldn't on stage or in public. After the preview, I explained
all that, after the director's explaination.
Anywhere there's creativity is truly a magical place
also.
Magic
Class
A few days after the harp came, I paid
the magician to give me a magic lesson. I wasn't sure which trick I'd use in my act, but I had a few favorites I wanted
to try. He had shown me a few things, and I had also bought a video. By the time of the class, I knew what I wanted to do,
and asked him to help me, especially with one particular illusion I was having trouble getting right.
It
was during that wonderful hour that he told me he had mentioned my act to the Vaudeville Director. If I was interested, I
was invited to call for an interview. It was a complete surprise to me, mostly because the magician hadn't even seen my
skit, yet, but from what I told him, he thought it was good enough for Vaudeville!
Vaudeville
It took me awhile to finally connect with the director. In the meantime, I was preparing for
the fundraiser, getting my costume fixed the way I wanted it, and practicing the harp. Many hours of practice went into it,
and after a month, I had 2 songs down, well enough to play in public, with others I worked on, still needing practice.
The night of my audition went very well. I showed it to the director and choregraphapher. They laughed a lot,
gave me a nice applause, and sincere compliments, then welcomed me to Vaudeville. They gave me some suggestions, too, which
I really appreciated.
The audition wasn't at the theatre, which I had never been inside of, but I finally
saw it, at my first rehearsal there. Many people had told me how wonderful it is, and they were Right!
My
first rehearsal went well. I got more suggestions, and a few notes to bring home. After two rehearsals, I found myself facing
a live audience on opening night. My performance was good, judging by their applause, though my second one was even better.
Harpo got his start in Vaudeville, so it seems fitting that I should find myself there, too. Neither of
us had planned to be there, it just happened. There's another Marx connection to Vaudeville, too, in two of the performers,
one playing an uncle of the Marx Brothers, and the other played someone else Harpo would've met back then.
For personal reasons, I chose not to call myself Harpo Marx, but instead, to be known as "A Harpo." It is
with deep admiration, respect, and love that I made this choice, because, there'll never be another Harpo Marx, and it
doesn't feel right for me to use his name, as much as I wanted to, especially at Vaudeville. For awhile, the name on my
cards was "A Harpo Marx." It wasn't my idea, but as long as the A is there, I said ok.
Jam Fest
The whole day at the jam fest was totally awesome! "A Harpo" was mentioned in the
local paper, for this event, as well as for Vaudeville. The jam fest article featured a large photo of me playing harp, taken
at the preview at the center. Printed schedules had my name on it, as well as ads posted around town, with a small pic I let
them use. I printed my own ads, too, some of which were also posted.
That day was one of the greatest highlights
of my life! I had been listed as being there most the day to entertain them with "Harpo's funny antics," and
they weren't disappointed. As I prepared for the event, I thought of things I could do, and everything came together that
day. People laughed, commented, and enjoyed Harpo's presence, children, animals, and adults alike. It was a day I'll
always remember very fondly.
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