From: njs@mrtoad.lahabra.chevron.com (n.j.spera)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps
Subject: GH: Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood!/Wally Kurth
Keywords: gh,Wally,HHH
Date: 12 Oct 92 17:26:15 GMT
Reply-To: njs@mrtoad.lahabra.chevron.com
Organization: Chevron, La Habra, CA




Ok folks - after my countdown I guess it's time to report on 'Hurry! Hurry!
Hollywood!'.  I have just one word WOW!!!!!  If you like good old-fashioned
musicals with lots of dancing - good songs - and show stopping numbers - well
- IMHO - HHH is it.   And while Wally didn't steal the show he and Tia
Riebling did shine (as did most of the cast).  If audience reaction is any
gauge - HHH should be a hit - it got a standing ovation Saturday and I heard
only positive comments going to the parking lot Friday. (Yes I went both 
nights- had purchased a ticket before realizing my invitation to the Opening
Night Party included a ticket to that evening's performance.)

HHH is the story of 3 friends Billy (Wally Kurth), Kate (Tia Riebling) and
Freddie (Ray Benson) who decide to try their luck in Hollywood after they
loose their jobs as ushers in a theatre in NY when it closes to be turned
into a moviehouse in the early 30's.  Thus the title 'Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood!
In addition there is a romantic triangle - Kate loves Billy and wants to marry
him but he's not ready, and Freddie loves Kate but she has no inkling.

While working in the studio commissary the trio gets hired to coach the
star of a musical comedy (the movie version of the last show at the theatre
where the trio where working, she has her eyes on Billy) but before they arrive
at work the first day she quits -so instead they are told by the director
Elliot Sloane (Bruce H. Newberg) to help find 'the right girl'.  Billy thinks 
he has, an obnoxious 'Southern Belle' named Polly Sue (Rachelle Ottley)
and when the studio head hears Kate showing Polly Sue how to sing a song 
- he thinks it's Polly Sue and hires Polly Sue without seeing her and 
makes Billy a producer.  Driven by ambition Billy fails to tell the exec 
the truth and leaves his friends behind.  Kate sees Billy's not the man 
she thought he was and Phoebe Farber, a "Hedda Hopper" type character
tells her to look elsewhere - she can't change the man.  Polly Sue, 
feeling threatened by Kate and Freddie gets them fired - only Freddie 
comes up with scheme to get back at Polly Sue -and in a show stopping 
number - she finally up and quits.
Although Billy offers the job to Kate she decides to go try for her singing
career - and works her way up to The Conconut Grove where she becomes a star.
Billy has seen the error of his ways and apologizes to Kate and finally 
asks her to marry him - and after thinking and another song - turns him down 
- and leaves with Freddie.  The show closes with  the movie back in production
with Kate starring - and a production number like that of Ziegfield with a 
starburst and scanitly clad girls.  


Some notes on the cast - Ray Benson is the husband of Jodi Benson
and Phoebe Farber was played by a Ethel Merman type.  Rachelle Ottley, 
Wally, and Bruce H. Newberg (Co-author with Sam Harris) were all in 
the original production at UCLA when they were students along with 
Sam Harris.  Sam directed this production (his first time directing).

For those who have never really heard Wally sing (especially GH fans whose 
only exposure to Wally singing is the 'Springsteen fantasy' ) - he was great -
and while the stuff he did on Days was good - but limiting - you could tell 
he really enjoys musical theatre  - he had a couple nice duets  - one with
Tia Riebling and one with Rachelle Ottley.  Tia Riebling has a great voice 
too - Michael Lynch (Connor on GH) should be real proud.  

There were a couple of great tap numbers and - while Wally wasn't in those
he did have a couple of soft shoe numbers.

As far as star-gazing - the only GH actor I saw was Michael Lynch (Tia 
Riebling is his wife).  BUT two rows ahead of me was Edie Adams and
two rows behind me was Ann Miller (the choreographer was the assistant
director of "Sugar Babies").  I was invited to the Opening Night Party (which
actually was held Sat even though HHH officially opened Fri) and did get 
a few minutes with Wally - he's really having a great time with it - I think
musical theatre is his first love.

Hopefully they'll attract producers and investors - and get to 
Broadway - or on tour - I certainly hope so - 

Well folks that's my report - Maureen feel free to add - or correct.


Nancy 
--I guess it's time for a new line
-- 
 Nancy J. Spera, Earth Model Division   # "If I didn't know for a fact that   #
 Chevron Petroleum Technology Co.       #  Elvis was working in a donut shop  #
 P.O. Box 446, La Habra, CA 90633-0446  #  in Beaver Falls, I'd swear he was  #
 Tel: (310) 694-7761  njs@chevron.com   #  driving this truck." Scotty Baldwin#
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