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Mexican Hayride (musical)
Encyclopedia
Mexican Hayride is a musical
with a book by Herbert Fields
and Dorothy Fields
and music and lyrics by Cole Porter
. The show opened on Broadway
in 1944.
, out of town tryouts began at the Shubert Theatre, Boston on December 29, 1943. The production opened on Broadway on January 28, 1944 at the Winter Garden Theatre
, moved to the Majestic Theatre
on December 18, 1944 and closed on March 17 1945 after 481 performances.
The production was staged by Hassard Short
, who also was the lighting designer, with choreography by Paul Haakon, set by George Jenkins
and costumes by Mary Grant. Various segments were separately directed. Dan Eckley directed the opening dance; Lew Kesler directed the songs "Girls" and "Abracadabra"; and Virginia Johnson and Dan Eckley directed the dance "Good-Will Movement". The cast featured Bobby Clark
(Joe Bascom), June Havoc
(Montana), George Givot (Lombo Campos) Wilbur Evans
(David Winthrop) and Paul Haakon (Paul).
, Montana, a lady bullfighter, is about to throw the ear to David, the American chargé d'affaires. When she spots the fugitive, Joe, she angrily throws the ear at him, as he is her brother-in-law. Since he has caught the ear, he becomes a hero and an honored guest. Joe joins with a speculator to form a national lottery. Mexican authorities go after them and they are forced to flee. They show up in various disguises, as mariachi players, as tortilla vendors, or as an Indian squaw. They are finally snared and Joe has to return to the U.S. to face trial. Montana and David are reunited.
Act II
"The production was lavish, with a large cast and a delectable chorus line. One critic felt that the production itself was the star." The Journal-American reviewer wrote:"Broadway in general, and the drama critics in particular, can continue their custom of writing the word 'fabulous' in front of the name of Mike Todd. For the truth is that last night the fabulous Todd produced a musical comedy so funny, so tuneful, so beautiful, that you could hardly believe your ears and eyes."
(1948) became a vehicle for Abbott and Costello
and used no Cole Porter
songs from the musical.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with a book by Herbert Fields
Herbert Fields
Herbert Fields was an American librettist and screenwriter.Born in New York City, Fields began his career as an actor, then graduated to choreography and stage direction before turning to writing. From 1925 until his death, he contributed to the libretti of many Broadway musicals...
and Dorothy Fields
Dorothy Fields
Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films...
and music and lyrics by Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
. The show opened on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 1944.
Production
Produced by Michael ToddMichael Todd
Mike or Michael Todd may refer to:*Mike Todd , American film producer*Mike Todd, Jr. , son of American film producer Mike Todd and stepson to Elizabeth Taylor...
, out of town tryouts began at the Shubert Theatre, Boston on December 29, 1943. The production opened on Broadway on January 28, 1944 at the Winter Garden Theatre
Winter Garden Theatre
The Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1634 Broadway in midtown Manhattan.-History:The structure was built by William Kissam Vanderbilt in 1896 to be the American Horse Exchange....
, moved to the Majestic Theatre
Majestic Theatre
The Majestic Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 245 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan.The Majestic, one of the largest Broadway theatres with 1,607 seats, traditionally has been used as a venue for major musical theatre productions...
on December 18, 1944 and closed on March 17 1945 after 481 performances.
The production was staged by Hassard Short
Hassard Short
Hubert Edward Hassard Short , usually known as Hassard Short, was an actor, stage director, set designer and lighting designer in musical theatrewho directed over 50 Broadway and West End shows between 1920 and 1953...
, who also was the lighting designer, with choreography by Paul Haakon, set by George Jenkins
George Jenkins
George Clarke Jenkins was an American production designer and three-time Tony Award nominee.Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he studied architecture at University of Pennsylvania before leaving to build sets...
and costumes by Mary Grant. Various segments were separately directed. Dan Eckley directed the opening dance; Lew Kesler directed the songs "Girls" and "Abracadabra"; and Virginia Johnson and Dan Eckley directed the dance "Good-Will Movement". The cast featured Bobby Clark
Bobby Clark (comedian)
Robert Edwin Clark , known as Bobby Clark, was a minstrel, vaudevillian, performer on stage, film, television and the circus....
(Joe Bascom), June Havoc
June Havoc
June Havoc was a Canadian-born American actress, dancer, writer, and theater director. Havoc was a child Vaudeville performer under the tutelage of her mother. She later acted on Broadway and in Hollywood and stage directed . She last appeared on television in 1990 on General Hospital...
(Montana), George Givot (Lombo Campos) Wilbur Evans
Wilbur Evans
Wilbur "Wib" Evans was an American actor and singer who performed on the radio, in opera, on Broadway, in films, and in early live television.-Biography:...
(David Winthrop) and Paul Haakon (Paul).
Plot overview
After successfully fighting a bull in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Montana, a lady bullfighter, is about to throw the ear to David, the American chargé d'affaires. When she spots the fugitive, Joe, she angrily throws the ear at him, as he is her brother-in-law. Since he has caught the ear, he becomes a hero and an honored guest. Joe joins with a speculator to form a national lottery. Mexican authorities go after them and they are forced to flee. They show up in various disguises, as mariachi players, as tortilla vendors, or as an Indian squaw. They are finally snared and Joe has to return to the U.S. to face trial. Montana and David are reunited.
Songs
Act I- Entrance of Montana – Principals, Girls and Boys
- Dance – Girls and Boys
- Sing to Me, Guitar – Lolita, Ensemble and Musical Trio
- The Good-Will Movement – David and Ensemble
- I Love YouI Love You (Cole Porter song)"I Love You" is a song written by Cole Porter in 1944 for his stage musical Mexican Hayride. It was popularized by Bing Crosby in the same year...
– David - There Must Be Someone for Me – Montana
- Carlotta – Lolita and Ensemble
- Girls – Boy and Girls
Act II
- What a Crazy Way to Spend Sunday – Girls and Boys
- Abracadabra – Montana and Boys
- Dance – Girls, Boys and the Mariachi Players
- Count Your Blessings – Montana and boys
- Toreador Ballet – Paul and Ensemble
Reception
Life Magazine called the musical "Broadway's flashiest and most opulent show of the moment" but wrote that "despite its colossal aspects, it ends up as a showcase for the talents of two performers: loping, braying Bobby Clark and hoydenish, streamlined June Havoc. Clark clowns his way through the part of a U.S. confidence man...Miss Havoc, in the role of an American girl who becomes one of Mexico's most famous bullfighters, emerges as a personality more engaging than her better-known sister, Gypsy Rose Lee. Both she and Clark are wonderful enough to make audiences forgive 'Hayride' its sleazy book and a Cole Porter score that is a sad reminder that the composer of 'Night and Day' seems, at least temporarily, to have written himself dry.""The production was lavish, with a large cast and a delectable chorus line. One critic felt that the production itself was the star." The Journal-American reviewer wrote:"Broadway in general, and the drama critics in particular, can continue their custom of writing the word 'fabulous' in front of the name of Mike Todd. For the truth is that last night the fabulous Todd produced a musical comedy so funny, so tuneful, so beautiful, that you could hardly believe your ears and eyes."
Recording
A cast recording of the original production is available. It was originally issued in 1944 on Decca [Decca A-372].Film
The film version of Mexican HayrideMexican Hayride
Mexican Hayride is a 1948 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. The film is based on Cole Porter's Broadway musical Mexican Hayride starring Bobby Clark...
(1948) became a vehicle for Abbott and Costello
Abbott and Costello
William "Bud" Abbott and Lou Costello performed together as Abbott and Costello, an American comedy duo whose work on stage, radio, film and television made them the most popular comedy team during the 1940s and 1950s...
and used no Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
songs from the musical.