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You remember that familiar face: twitching black eyebrows framing those rolling eyes, circled by glasses. There was a brushy, sometimes oversized mustache, often a bow tie, and that ever-present cigar. He had a comical leer and his wit was tart. You mused at his wisecracks with contestants as he hosted the TV game show “You Bet Your Life.” It was Groucho Marx, puffing into your living room set all through the 1950s.

Now he will be onstage at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts as it opens its 1990-91 season of Broadway shows with the production of “Groucho: A Life in Revue.” Using material from the Marx Brothers Broadway shows, films and the TV game show, the play will examine the public and private life of Groucho, who died in 1977. The play by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher will re-create the familiar antics, songs and comedy of the legendary vaudeville performer as well as relationships with his brothers and the loves of his life.

Frank Ferrante will star as Groucho Marx, a role he is re-creating from critically acclaimed performances in London, New York and Los Angeles. Peter Slutsker will be featured in the dual role of Harpo and Chico Marx. Anastasia Barzee will portray “the girls” and Michael Frank will be “the citizens of Freedonia.” Glenn Castle will direct the season-opening production.

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The Groucho show will be previewed Tuesday and Wednesday, and will open Thursday. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Sundays, with 2:30 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 18 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Tickets are $20 to $24.

“Groucho: A Life in Revue” is produced by Herb Rogers, as is the entire 1990-91 La Mirada Theatre Broadway Season, which will include four other productions. Donna Mills of TV’s “Knots Landing” will star in Christopher Hampton’s “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” from Jan. 8 to 27. Claude Akins of “Sheriff Lobo” will star in “Born Yesterday,” a classic American comedy by Garson Kanin, from Feb. 19 to March 10. Jane Wyatt of “Father Knows Best” and Ted Lange of “The Love Boat” will star in “Driving Miss Daisy” scheduled April 2 to 21. Rose Marie of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” will star in “Nunsense,” a new musical comedy by Dan Goggin, from April 3 to May 19.

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