Mary Boylan

Curley McDimple is a musical with music and lyrics by Robert Dahdah and book by Robert Dahdah and Mary Boylan. The play is a spoof of Depression-era Shirley Temple movies and was presented in a black and white design. This was one of two musicals in which Bernadette Peters appeared that spoofed some aspect of Hollywood—the other was Dames at Sea. "The Meanest Man in Town" is its best-known song. Curley McDimple opened at the Off Broadway Bert Wheeler Theatre, New York City on November 22, 1967, and ran for 931 performances, closing on January 25, 1970. Robert Dahdah directed, musical numbers were staged by Lonnie Evans, and Bernadette Peters was featured as "Alice", a performer. Peters left the production in early 1968 for her next show, George M!. Butterfly McQueen, who was known for her performance in the film Gone with the Wind, joined the cast on May 9, 1968. In a new role written for her, she played a cook at the boarding house. The Colorforms company also made a dress-up doll set based on the title character after Shirley Temple Black refused to grant the company a license. Plot synopsis In the 1930s, Curley (the Shirley Temple-like character) arrives at Sarah's Theatrical Boarding House, a shabby but homey theatrical boarding house in Manhattan, New York City, run by a nice Irish lady, Sarah. Curley is an optimistic eight years old and is looking for parents to adopt her; she settles on Alice and Jimmy. They are performers who are both boarders at the house—they fall in love with each other at first sight. The boarders aid Sarah, who is threatened with losing her house through foreclosure by the banker, Mr. Gillingwater, by putting on a benefit vaudeville show. A mean Social worker, during the rehearsals for the benefit, steals Curley away, taking her to an orphanage in New Jersey. Curley is able to escape and she performs in the show, which is a hit and is picked up by Broadway. Curley finds out that Gillingwater is her grandfather and that he is a former sweetheart of Sarah's, and Jimmy and Alice get married. Characters and original cast Jimmy, a boarder and young song and dance man trying to become a star – Paul Cahill (replaced by Don Emmons) Bill, a "Bill Robinson" type tap dancer – George Hillman Sarah, Irish owner of the boarding house – Helen Blount Miss Hamilton, Social worker, looking like the Wicked Witch – Norma Bigtree Alice, another boarder and performer – Bernadette Peters Mr. Gillingwater, a wealthy banker – Gene Galvin Curley, eight–year old child star – Bayn Johnson Musical numbers Act I Overture A Cup of Coffee – Jimmy I Try – Jimmy and Alice Curley McDimple – Curley, Jimmy, Alice, Sarah, Bill Love is the Loveliest Song – Alice Are There Any More Rosie O'Gradys? – Sarah, Jimmy, Alice, Curley, Bill Dancing in the Rain – Curley, Bill, Company At the Playland Jamboree – Curley, Company I've Got a Little Secret – Jimmy, Curley Act II Stars and Lovers – Alice, Jimmy, Company The Meanest Man in Town – Alice, Jimmy, Company I Try (reprise) – Jimmy, Alice Something Nice Is Going to Happen – Curley Swing-a-Ding-a-Ling – Curley Hi de hi de hi, Hi de hi de ho – Sarah, Alice, Jimmy, Bill, Mr. Gillingwater, Miss Hamilton Swing-a-Ding-a-Ling (Reprise) – Curley, Company Something Nice Is Going To Happen (Reprise) – Miss Hamilton Love is the Loveliest Love Song (reprise) – Jimmy, Company Finale – Jimmy References Sullivan, Dan. "Theater:Good Ship Lollipop Revisited", New York Times, November 23, 1967, p. 59 "Miss McQueen Gets Part", New York Times, p. 52, May 9, 1968 Information from Melbirnkrant.com Information from musicalnotesnmore.com Little Musicals for Little Theatres (2006), Denny Martin Flinn, p. 32, Hal Leonard Corp., ISBN 0-87910-321-3 Article in Life magazine, June 13, 1969 issue. External links Curley McDimple at the Internet Off-Broadway Database Photo of Peters and Johnson in Curley McDimple, 1967

Mary Boylan Born February 23, 1913 in Plattsburgh, New York, USA Died February 18, 1984 in New York City, New York, USA Mary Boylan was born on February 23, 1913 in the little town of Plattsburgh, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Annie Hall (1977), Alice Sweet Alice (1976) and The Night of the Iguana (1964) and Up the Down Staircase. She died on February 18, 1984 in New York City, New York. When Ms. Boylan auditioned for musical roles, she did not use an accompanist, instead, she brought a tape recorder to auditions. Due to a genetic quirk, Ms. Boylan looked many years older than her age, so she played older women in movies. However, off screen, she was lively and energetic, and a star in New York's Off-Off Broadway theaters such as the Caffe Cino and La Mama, with vehicles written especially for her by such writers as H.M. Koutoukas. She also played the landlady in her musical, co-written with Robert Daddah, "Curley McDimple which ran for two years and starred Bernadette Peters, Butterfly McQueen and Don Emmons. Filmography Actress (23 credits) 1984 Rent Control Old Woman at Columbia Party 1979 Night Flowers Woman with Cat 1979 Heartland Ma Gillis 1979 Sanctuary of Fear (TV Movie) Mrs. Blount 1977 Annie Hall Miss Reed 1977 Bad Grandmother 1976 Alice Sweet Alice Mother Superior 1974 Nightmare (TV Movie) (uncredited) 1973 The Exorcist First Mental Patient (uncredited) 1971 The Anderson Tapes Bus Station Lady (uncredited) 1969 Midnight Cowboy Old Lady in Subway (uncredited) 1968 The Night They Raided Minsky's Laughing Lady in the Audience (uncredited) 1968 No Way to Treat a Lady Sadie's Neighbor (uncredited) 1966 A Fine Madness Minor Role (uncredited) 1965 Harvey Middleman, Fireman Lady on bus (uncredited) 1965 The Patty Duke Show (TV Series) Flower lady - Will the Real Sammy Davis Please Hang Up? (1965) ... Flower lady 1964 The Night of the Iguana Miss Peebles 1959 Odds Against Tomorrow Bank Secretary (uncredited) 1958 Naked City (TV Series) Marie - And a Merry Christmas to the Force on Patrol (1958) ... Marie 1958 Edge of Fury (as Mary Elizabeth Boylan) 1957 A Face in the Crowd One of Lonesome's Relatives (uncredited) 1956 The Wrong Man Curious Customer (uncredited) 1955 Star Tonight (TV Series) - Write Me a Love Scene (1955)