Minute 052: Begin the Beguine

Guest Host: Melora Hardin

ACTING BIOGRAPHY:
Melora Hardin is perhaps most recognized for her portrayal of ‘Jan Levinson’ on the U.S. version of the hit television series The Office and movies such as Hannah Montana: The Movie,  17 Again, The Hot Chick, and of course The Rocketeer.  Although her impressive career spans a variety of media, including numerous television series, films, live concerts and music albums.

MUSIC BIOGRAPHY:
Melora has been singing and writing songs all her life. Music flows through her and she loves to write, record and perform. Her mother says she wrote her first song when she was two years old, and sang it over and over and over again. Melora says she is still on her musical journey, and is always finding ways to get closer to who she is musically. You can follow her recording career thus far with her three CDs, “The Meloradrama”, “PURR” and “All The Way To Mars”. Or you can catch Melora singing live around the country with her act, as well as local gigs here in Los Angeles. Melora has been lucky enough to be able to express herself musically in many other venues too. She had the time of her life performing live on Broadway as ‘Roxie Hart’ in Chicago, and as ‘Fantine’ in Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl with Lea Michelle. In movies like Disney’s The Rocketeer singing “Begin the Beguine” and “When Your Lover Has Gone” (both songs are on the original motion picture soundtrack) and made for TV movie Tower Of Terror. On television singing The National Anthem for NASCAR, The Ducks, The Dodgers and numerous others, as well as TV shows like the The Office (“Babyshower” episode) and in her new TBS series Wedding Band she can be seen singing one of her original songs “As Boy and His Cat” as well as many other songs as ‘Roxy Rutherford’.

For more information about Melora’s latest activities, visit Melora.com.

Summary

The scene is the ballroom of the South Seas Club. The bandleader, clarinet in hand, is playing the opening notes of Cole Porter’s “Beguine the Beguine.”

Patrons begin to fill the dance floor.  The band is arrayed behind a multilayered pool at the edge of the dance floor. Behind the bandleader,  a giant scallop shell opens to reveal a giant illuminated pearl.  A woman in a flowing dress ascends to the stage from behind the pearl.

Jenny, on the arm of Neville Sinclair, walks down the stairs to the ballroom. Jenny is wearing a long white satin dress. Neville wears a tuxedo with a lavender jacket. Neville glances at Jenny, who is taking in the sights of the South Seas Club. She, in turn glances back at Neville. Both smile.

From behind Neville is a familiar voice. “Hello, Neville!” says Clark Gable.

“Hello, Clark,” replies Neville, in a matter-of-fact tone. Clark  wanders off with his date. Jenny looks at Gable in awe.  Neville glances again at Jenny, who is now beaming with a wide smile.

“♫ When they begin… the Beguine,” the singer intones  in front of a large velocity microphone.

“It brings back the sound of music so tender,…”

Neville holds Jenny’s chair as she sits down at a ringside table near the dance floor.”

“It brings back a night of tropical splendor…” continues the singer, “It brings back a memory, evergreen…”

Neville seats himself across from Jenny, and rests his chin on the back of his hand. Jenny looks back at him and gives Neville a wide smile. After a moment, she looks down, away from his gaze.

“Neville!” cries another familiar voice, interrupting this gazing contest. Jenny glances up. Neville begins to laugh as the owner of the familiar voice approaches. “You old scalawag!” continues the voice. Next to Jenny’s face, there’s a man in a waistcoat who has a large watch chain tucked into one of the vest pockets.

In This Minute
Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair
Jennifer Connelly as Jenny
Bob Sandman as South Seas Bandleader
Melora Hardin as South Seas Singer
Bob Leeman as W.C. Fields
Gene Daily as Clark Gable