Best Little Whorehouse in Texas tour question

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 12/7/10 at 10:52am

Ok, so, I just recently got a playbill for the Houston sit down in 79. In the song list was a song in Act II (right after Sidestep) for Melvin called "Lonley at the Top."

Was this in the touring productions? Was it just written for that production? I have never seen it listed anywhere before, and I don't remember reading about it in Whorehouse Papers.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/7/10 at 10:57am

I seem to remember that the Melvin P. Thorpe character was expanded a little bit for the Houston sit down production because the inspiration for the part, Marvin Zindler, was a recognizable Houston area public figure. The Houston sit down actually preceeded the tour (and I think the song stayed with it) but its not in the licensed version and wasn't in the last Ann-Margret production.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 12/7/10 at 11:05am

Gotcha. I was very surprised to see a song I'd never heard of suddenly appear. I don't know if it's in the later tours...I'll check my playbill with Alexis when I get in. I know by the time June Terry was doing it, that it was out.

Wonder if a recording exists somewhere...I'm curious now.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/7/10 at 4:06pm

For anyone interested, here is a short clip of the real Melvin P. Thorpe, Marvin Zindler, typical of his later career.
SLIME in the ICE MACHINE

[morosco]

Posted: 12/7/10 at 4:32pm

OMG. Marvin Zindler looks a little like Tommy Tune.

[raker]

Posted: 12/7/10 at 4:43pm

I checked my Playbills from the two times I saw the show in Boston. The first time, around 1980 starring Alexis Smith, included "Lonely at the Top." The second, a few years later starring Carlin Glynn, did not.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 12/7/10 at 11:20pm

Yeah, i pulled my playbills of the 1NT, 2NT and 3NT and they have it.

Wonder if it made it to London?

[tazber]

Posted: 12/8/10 at 5:51am

I think that song is on one of the Lost In Boston cds.

ETA: No, it's another cut song called Have A Memory On Me that's on Lost In Boston. It's performed by Dee Hoty, so I assume it was a number for Mona. Prett song though.

Updated On: 12/8/10 at 05:51 AM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 12/8/10 at 12:15pm

^ That was in the Entermedia Run and the Actor's Studio run, but it's always been called "The Memory Song" until those albums.

It is a nice song though.