The Acting Class is the 20th episode of the series George and Martha that aired on May 30, 1999. It's sister episode is Baby Doll.
Summary[]
George and Martha stroll in town, as it is a hot day. They briefly go under the shade where George says that he could go for an ice cream, which an ice cream truck is right around the corner. They are then encountered by a mime monkey, but they are confused at what it's trying to say. George passes it but Martha says he hurt the monkey's feelings, although Martha takes a paper from him advertising an acting class. Martha says it is taught by Barry Lionmore, the master of theatre. The first lesson is free and there is air conditioning, which gets George to agree to go.
They arrive at the acting school where there's all kinds of animals. Barry introduces himself and everyone sits in front of Barry's stage, where he teaches his first lesson. He asks Martha why is she here today, so she introduces herself and George, embarrassing him. George tells Barry that he just wanted to get out the heat which is the reason why he's here, resulting in Barry to tell him to get up on the stage taking no refusal. He tells George to close his eyes and asks for his favorite food, then tells him to imagine he is an ice cream cone with a scenario. However, because the sun is so hot, George melts. Everyone claps at George and Barry's performance.
The people, including Martha, compliments George's acting. Barry introduces him to Mr. Eton, a famous talent scout from Hollywood who was sitting in the class, who was also impressed. He asks George where did he study, with Martha saying it was his first acting class. Eton tells him that he has a part in a movie, and he can come tonight on his trip back to Hollywood. Martha tells him that he can go without him, as it's his destiny.
George packs and gets ready to leave. While doing that, George imagines that he had won an award at an award show, where he gets up and thanks Martha. Though Martha shakes him back to reality telling him goodbye. George tells her that she'll see him again - on billboards, magazine covers, etc. though Martha meant physically. She helps him take his things out to the limo, but George decides that he can't do this and leave his best friend behind. Mr. Eton asks Martha, and she is ecstatic to have her name be everywhere and become a Hollywood star, so she attempts to leave, although it turns out to be a joke and she wouldn't leave her best friend behind either. Mr. Eton doesn't give up, and asks the monkey mime driver if he would like to be a star, so they drive away, and George and Martha go to get ice cream together.
Trivia[]
- Barry Lionmore is a reference to an actual deceased actor, Lionel Barrymore.
- George's "I'm melting!" scene is a reference to The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.