By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
November 30, 2001
Maurice Hines is a phenomenally talented dancer. But leave him alone in a room with two telephones and call waiting and he’s all thumbs.
“I am so sorry,” Hines apologizes, after accidentally disconnecting one reporter while finishing up a call with another. “I never know what I’m doing. All the hotel phones have different buttons!”
It’s OK, Maurice. We’ve all got our downfalls. Luckily, he doesn’t need technology to mesmerize onstage.
“I love Chicago so much,” he days. “There are a few cities like Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia and Chicago where it’s just such a joy to be in. You have a great city that loves theater.”
Starring as the charismatic Nathan Detroit in a brand new 50th anniversary production of “Guys and Dolls,” Hines was eager to tackle the role, which he had first portrayed 25 years ago. Back then, he starred opposite Debbie Allen, Leslie Uggams and Richard Roundtree.
“It was an all African-American company, which was unusual,” he says. “When Richard Roundtree walked out there, baby, they didn’t even know I was on stage. He was gorgeous and as sweet as can be.”
Apparently, Hines isn’t doing so badly himself. After seeing this latest production, Jo Loesser–wife of the late composer Frank Loesser–said Hines did something no actor had been able to do before. He made Nathan Detroit sexy.
“I was very flattered, but the truth is that it’s not me,” he says. “The girl playing Adelaide [Alexandra Foucard] looks just like Halle Berry. It’s very easy to act opposite her.”
Performing eight shows a week takes its toll on the actor/dancer, who won’t divulge his age. But he takes it all in stride. He starts his day each morning at 9 a.m., works out on the treadmill, runs errands, enjoys a light supper at 3 and then naps from 4:30 to 5:30 before show time. Traveling with one assistant, Hines likes to keep his life as simple as possible.
“I’m a loner, so it’s not difficult for me to be on the road,” Hines says. “I prefer it. I love being in different cities all the time.”
He and his younger brother, actor/dancer Gregory Hines, also learned about being professional and humble from working with the best: Judy Garland, Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, Count Basie, Chita Rivera, Carol Channing and Ella Fitzgerald.
“The word diva is so overused these days, but those were some major divas when they were on stage,” says Hines. “But they weren’t divas off stage. They were the kind of people who simply said, ‘This is our gig. We don’t save lives like surgeons. We just entertain.’ I don’t find a lot of humility in some of today’s younger performers.”
The advice he passes along to youngsters who ask him for tips is pretty basic.
“Get a dream and remember it belongs to you,” says Hines. “No one can take away your dream.”
SPEAKING OF CHICAGO, Hines had this to say:
Favorite restaurant: I love Chinese food. I walk around the city and see one I think I like and go right in. I never know the names.
Favorite area: I love the Magnificent Mile. I also love Oak Street–that whole area there reminds me of Greenwich Village.
Favorite Chicago venue: The Old Regal Theatre. It was the first theater Gregory and I played at as the Hines kids. I was 12, he was 10 and we played with Count Basie and Joe Williams.
Favorite Chicago memory: My brother and I auditioned for Johnny Carson’s show seven times and were turned down each time by the talent coordinators, who said we weren’t talented. Then Johnny saw us play at the old Playboy Club in Chicago and put us on his show 37 times during the last five years he was in New York.
The last word on Chicago: I just love Chicago!
