Mexican Hayride

A Musical Comedy in Two Acts
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields

Tryouts began December 29, 1943
at the Shubert Theatre, Boston

Opened January 28, 1944 at the Winter Garden Theatre, NYC
Ran for 481 performances
Produced by Michael Todd
Entire production staged and lighted by Hassard Short
Book directed by John Kennedy
Choreography by Paul Haakon, George Jenkins
Costumes by Mary Grant
Orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett, Ted Royal
Musical Direction by Harry Levant

Synopsis

Joe Bascom, an American numbers racket king in Mexico on the run from the FBI, eludes the local authorities (and his wife) by hiding in a hoopskirt, playing flute in a Mariachi band, and selling tortillas as a buck-toothed squaw.  Other characters include female bullfighter Montana, her manager Lombo, David Winthrop of the American Express, and Latin singer Lolita.

Cast

Bobby Clark (Joe Bascom, alias Humphrey Fish), June Havoc (Montana), George Givot (Lombo Campos), Wilbur Evans (David Winthrop), Luba Malina (Dagmar Marshak), Corinna Mura (Lolita Cantine), Paul Haakon (Paul), Edith Meiser (Eadie Johnson), Larry Martin (A. C. Blumenthal), and Sergio DeKarlo (Miguel Correres)

Musical Numbers

Act One

• Overture - Orchestra
• "Entrance of Montana" - Ensemble
• "Sing to Me, Guitar" - Lolita, Ensemble
• "The Good-Will Movement" - David, Ensemble
• "I Love You" - David
• "There Must Be Someone for Me" - Montana
• "Carlotta" - Lolita, Ensemble
• "Girls" - Humphrey, Ensemble

Act Two

• Entr'acte - Orchestra
• "What a Crazy Way to Spend Sunday" - Ensemble
• "Abracadabra" - Montana, Ensemble
• "Count Your Blessings" - Montana, Humphrey, Lombo

Cut Songs

• "Hereafter" [dropped during the Boston tryout; sung by Montana and Humphrey in Act One]
• "It Must Be Fun to Be You" [dropped during the Boston tryout; sung by David, Miguel and Montana in Act One]
• "Here's a Cheer for Dear Old Ciro's" [dropped during the Boston tryout; sung by Blumentahl and Ensemble]
• "Tequila" [dropped during the Boston tryout; sung by Lolita]
• "We're Off for a Hayride in Mexico" [dropped during rehearsals; originally the opening number]
• "He Certainly Kills the Women" [dropped during rehearsals; intended for Eadie]
• "A Humble Hollywood Executive" [unused; intended for Eadie]
• "It's a Big Night" [unused; an Ensemble number]
• "It's Just Like the Good Old Days" [unused; intended for Montana and Humphrey]
• "It's Just Yours" [unused; intended for either Humphrey or David]
• "Octet" [unused; possible Act Two finale; intended for Miguel, Lolita, Montana, David, Dagmar, Eadie, Lombo, and Humphrey]
• "Put a Sack Over Their Heads" [unused; inteneded for Humphrey]
• "A Sightseeing Tour" [unused; intended for Lombo and Ensemble]
• "That's What You Mean to Me" [unused]
• "I'm Afraid I Love You" [unused]
• "I'm So Glahd to Meet You" [unused; intended for Montana and Humphrey]

Original Cast Recordings

"Sing to Me, Guitar" / "Carlotta" - Corinna Mura

• 78 RPM, 1944 [Decca 23336]

"I Love You" / "Girls" - Wilbur Evans

• 78 RPM, 1944 [Decca 23337]

"There Must Be Someone for Me" / "Abracadabra" - June Havoc

• 78 RPM, 1944 [Decca 23338]

"Count Your Blessings" - June Havoc / "What a Crazy Way to Spend Sunday" - Chorus

• 78 RPM, 1944 [Decca 23339]

Mexican Hayride - Original Cast Recording

Contemporaneous Recordings

"I Love You" - Bing Crosby

• 78 RPM, 1944 [Decca 18595] Charted April 8, 1944; peaked at #1 for five weeks

"I Love You" - Enric Madriguera and His Orchestra (Bob Lido, vocals)

• 78 RPM, 1944 [Victor 27533] Charted April 8, 1944; peaked at #7

"I Love You" - Jo Stafford

• 78 RPM, 1944 [Capitol 153] Charted April 29, 1944; peaked at #8

"I Love You"- Perry Como

• 78 RPM, 1944 [Victor 1569] Charted April 29, 1944; peaked at #12

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