‘Hey Ma, the Times’ Critic Closed Our Show’

The review of Kaye Ballard’s one-woman show, “Hey, Ma--Working Hollywood Boulevard at Last!” by Don Shirley (Calendar, May 13) had many ramifications. The review began by declaring that the show was “a nightclub act moved to a large theater,” and commented that “within the context of a club . . . it might pass muster. At the Fonda, it doesn’t.”

This first-class production ran in New York City Off Broadway and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and Outer Circle Critics Award. Critics such as Dennis Cunningham, Liz Smith and Rex Reed all reviewed the show favorably.

Most of the reviews of Ballard’s opening here were more favorable than the Los Angeles Times. Two “Entertainment Tonight” segments aired nationally showing the pre-production and the opening night. More than 100 major entertainers and top industry people attended the opening at the Henry Fonda Theatre. Kaye received a standing ovation and took four curtain calls.

However, apparently the public takes The Times critic as gospel, because after Shirley’s review was published, our ticket sales slowed to a trickle and we had to close the show after six performances. It had been announced for a four-week engagement.

The importance of this economically to the L.A. business community, industry employees and the city of Hollywood is of great concern to me.

Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world. We have one of the most solid economies in the nation. The entertainment industry being mostly recession proof is a major contributor to this economy.

As producers, we decided to open our show on Hollywood Boulevard for several reasons.

First, Hollywood was and should again be the heart of the entertainment industry. The city has suffered for years because of a lack of interest by investors to inject money into the community to renovate it both physically and culturally. We felt Kaye Ballard’s show, a tribute to Hollywood, should be a large production in a first-class theater.

Second, the show was successfully performed in the Promenade Theatre Off Broadway (1984), at the Kennedy Center in Washington (1984) and at the Kaufman Theater Off Broadway (1988).

Third, Kaye Ballard is a Broadway stage, cinema and television star. She has starred in three Broadway productions and has innumerable film and television credits. She has dedicated more than 45 years to her craft. Kaye Ballard is not a “nightclub act.”

The financial damages to the community due to the closing are far reaching. Our pre-production budget injected over $140,000 into the local community and provided jobs for more than 50 people. If the show had run for six weeks with a 50% attendance (450 people average per performance) it would have provided over half a million dollars to the community in salaries, advertising revenue, restaurant sales, parking, etc.

The theater in Los Angeles is no different from any American city. If there is any hope for theater to be successful both creatively and economically in Los Angeles, it is important that the media support it.

Hollywood Boulevard is dark again with Kaye Ballard’s closing. The people of Los Angeles missed a good show.