A duet that Hutton had with Arthur Treacher was cut during the Panama Hattie tryout. In New York, Hutton was part of a trio, and had a solo in which she was backed up with the ensemble. I don't think there's any reason to believe that Merman was behind the cutting of the duet. Hutton said that Merman had a song of hers cut, but it seems that perhaps the out-of-town critics felt that there was a bit too much of Hutton in the show, and it was the creative team who made the decision to cut the song. As I'm sure you know, Hutton insisted that she was often badly treated. How much of that was true is in question.
It is true, however, that Merman ended up with a song that was originally to be sung by Betty Grable in Du Barry Was a Lady. I think I've read (but I'm not finding it right now) that Grable never really forgave Merman. If my memory is correct, Merman insisted that she did not ask for the song, but that the creative team basically said to her, "She doesn't have the voice to really land this song. We're giving it to you." The song was "Give Him the Oo-la-la." |
