Synopsis
(1): |
Okay, let's all sing: "Bus stop Wendy, she stays, I go,--under my umbrella..."
I think those are the words of that sixties song I sing every time the title
of this episode comes up. Anyway, in our episode, buss is spelled with two S's,
because it's a double entendre, not because we're not good spellers. And, our
bus stop doesn't refer to the song, but to the play, "Bus Stop," by William
Inge. Yes, Cicely is mounting a play, under the deft direction of Michelle Capra,
the town hyphenate: journalist-restaurant critic-director.
It seems most of
Cicely has been bitten by the showbiz bug, especially Shelly,
who was vying for the lead female role of 'Cherie', which Maggie won. Instead, Shelly is playing, as Shelly puts it, "that egghead waitress,
'Elma.' Holling's got the part of the drunken 'Doc,' Chris has the male lead 'Bo,' Ed has the part of 'Virgil,' and Eric Hillman (of Ron
and Eric) has the part of 'Sheriff Will,' which Ruth-Anne really thought should have gone to Ed. So, just how did Eric get the part of
the sheriff? Well, Hollywood-style, of course. Ron paid Michelle two-hundred-fifty
dollars to assure that Eric would get that role. The money didn't actually go
to Michelle, it went to a good cause, The Cicely Trout Hatchery -- but, you
get the point. When Eric finds out, he's naturally livid. But, after seeing
him perform, Michelle comforts him by telling him that he really was the right
one for the part.
Meanwhile, the politics of the play are giving Michelle severe
muscle spasms, so Phil prescribes some medication for her. To make matters worse,
however, Chris wants to quit the play, because he can't handle the kiss that
he and Maggie (as Cherie) are supposed to have at the end. But, we all know
that it goes way beyond that, and Chris is afraid of the kiss because of his
feelings for Maggie. Oh, the theatre. Such a complicated life. But, in the end,
the play goes on, Michelle relaxes, the actors enjoy themselves, the audience
enjoys themselves, Chris and Maggie kiss as 'Bo' and 'Cherie' but we really
know it's Chris and Maggie, and the curtain goes down to a standing ovation. |
Details
(Production
Bible): |
Cicely's rendition of "Bus Stop" - a benefit in support of the local trout hatchery.
Cast list:
Cherie - Maggie
Bo - Chris
Doc - Holling
Elma - Shelly
Sheriff - Eric
Virgil - Ed
The Eric Hillman special
sandwich: Ham on rye.
Eric's acting credits:
Hal in William Inge's "Picnic", Mitch in "Streetcar Named Desire".
Most Memorable Quote:
"But what is theater, really, but people gathered to sit together, quietly,
bravely, trying to solve their humanity together." |
Music:
(Note music listed is from the original TV airings. The DVD may differ.) |
[Help!
I need names of missing tunes from the original airings - email me.]
There's No Business Like Show Business (In many versions - a disco-ized Ethel Merman, piano)
other bits of piano
showtunes, including On With the Show (from Bugs Bunny), and Another Op'nin, Another Show (from Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate). (thanks Karen!)
On Broadway - George Benson (thanks Karen!)
[Eric tells his drama stories.]
Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K. 331 Mozart
[Michelle goes to Maurice.]
banjo piece when
Ruth-Anne reprimands Ron for messing with Eric. |