By Darlene Donloe
At 70-years-old
Maurice Hines hasn’t missed a step. Literally!
Ever the song
and dance man, Hines, who has been entertaining audiences for more than 60
years, chronicles his career in the musical, Maurice Hines Is Tappin’ Thru Life, currently playing through May
24, in the Bram Goldsmith Theater at the Wallis Annenberg Center For The
Performing Arts.
For 19
performances only, Hines, a celebrated dancer, choreographer, director and
singer, takes the audience on a journey starting from his childhood. What a
life!
The show is a
tribute to his brother and dancer partner, Gregory Hines, who died in 2003 as
well as their father. He also
dedicates the show to his mother, Alma, who he describes as his rock.
Hines reportedly
developed the show after reading an article on tap dance that didn’t mention
his brother, Gregory. Hines said he wanted the chance to honor his brother and
acknowledge his prowess as a tap dancer.
(l-r) Gregory and Maurice Hines
Throughout the
show, Hines, a fabulous storyteller, intertwines personal stories about his
life with the songs that accompany them.
He talks about
how his mother and father met, how he and Gregory were adored as children, how
they met and worked with some of their idols and one of the more emotional
stories – how he and Gregory were discriminated against in Las Vegas. As the story goes, Maurice and Gregory
were set to play a gig in Las Vegas with Tallulah Bankhead. However, Blacks
were not allowed to stay on the strip, so the brothers stayed off the strip at
the Moulin Rouge. One day Bankhead
took the brothers to the strip to meet Pearl Bailey. There was a swimming pool at the hotel and the boys wanted
to jump in the water. Apparently or allegedly the hotel’s management denied
their request – much to the chagrin of Bankhead. However, the boys jumped in the pool, while the white folks
jumped out. After the brothers were finished playing and swimming in the pool,
management drained the pool.
Hines went on to
talk about meeting Lena Horne, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin,
Frank Sinatra and more.
Although Hines
is best known for his tap dancing, he spends a large percentage of the show
singing, which is fine, but, admittedly, a bit disappointing. It’s magical to watch his flying feet.
Hines leaves most of the dancing to the amazing Manzari brothers (John and Leo)
and 11-year-old tap sensation, Luke Spring.
The Manzari Brothers
(L to R) John and Leo Manzari. Photo by Teresa Wood
The Manzari
Brothers performed alongside Hines in Arena Stage’s production of Sophisticated Ladies.
Hines, donned
head to foot in black, began the show with the uptempo, I’ve Never Been In Love Before. From there he changed outfits several times and glided through classics
like, Every Day I Have The Blues, I’ve
Grown Accustomed To Her Face, Love the One You’re With, Smile, Stormy Weather,
Honeysuckle Rose, Get Me to the Church On Time, A Tisket, A Tasket, I’ve Got
You Under My Skin, Luck Be A Lady Tonight, Caravan, I Can’t Give You Anything
But Love, It Don’t Mean A Thing and Too
Marvelous for Words.
Hines is backed
by the rockin’ nine-piece, all-female Diva Jazz Orchestra, led by music
director, drummer and Hines collaborator Sherrie Maricle and featuring Nedra
Wheeler (acoustic bass), Karen
Hammack (piano) Lori Stuntz (trombone), Carol Chalkin (baritone sax), Glenda Smith
(lead trumpet), Scheila Gonzales (lead alto saxophone), Barbara Laronga
(trumpet) and Sharon Hirata (tenor saxophone). The band is tight and the musicians, many of whom have
featured solos, are exceptional.
Hines knows how
to put on a show. It’s well-written, it’s interesting, it’s entertaining, it’s emotional,
it’s comical and it’s visual - showing a number of vintage pictures of his
family and many of the stars he and his brother shared a stage with.
Maurice Hines
Photo by Teresa Wood.
The best part of
the show is Hines. Once the show starts the fun never ends. He is a ball of musical/tapping
energy. With enough personality to dole out to the entire audience, Hines
charms his way through a 90-minute set, holding spectators in the palm of his
hand. His charisma is palpable, his smile is infectious and his flair is
enviable.
Hines comes from
the old school way of performing – no bells and whistles – just straight
talent. He delivers a solid performance that is engaging and showcases Hines'
enormous gift.
Maurice Hines Is Tappin’ Thru Life, directed by Tony Award nominee Jeff
Calhoun (Broadway’s Newsies and Grey Gardens) is a treat. It doesn’t get any better than this. It
doesn’t get any better than Maurice Hines.
Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life is a co-production with the Wallis
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Arena Stage, Alliance Theatre and
Cleveland Play House.
On the DONLOE
SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable) O (OK) and E
(excellent), Maurice Hines Is Tappin’
Thru Life gets an E (excellent).
Maurice Hines Is Tappin’ Thru Life, Wallis Annenberg Center For The
Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica, LA; 8 p.m.
Tues.-Fri.; 3 and 8 p.m., Sat; 2 and 7 p.m. Sun; $70-$129; 310 746-4000 or www.thewallis.org.
*(top) Maurice Hines. Photo by Teresa Wood.
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