Magnificent Hubba Hubba

by Olga Humphrey

At a San Diego hotel and casino, LUCILLE – the Magnficent Hubba Hubba – is working as a greeter just outside the VIP Room, trying to get the high rollers inside to gamble at higher stakes. Lucille is a former champion of women’s wrestling and is close to 70 years old. She’s acerbic and does not suffer fools gladly. After dealing with a very drunk and clueless young woman who somehow scored an invite to the...

At a San Diego hotel and casino, LUCILLE – the Magnficent Hubba Hubba – is working as a greeter just outside the VIP Room, trying to get the high rollers inside to gamble at higher stakes. Lucille is a former champion of women’s wrestling and is close to 70 years old. She’s acerbic and does not suffer fools gladly. After dealing with a very drunk and clueless young woman who somehow scored an invite to the VIP room, Lucille tells the woman who hired her – WANDA – that’s she’s done. Wanda asks if she’s quitting. Lucille would like nothing better, but she’s living in a cheap motel room and hasn’t wrestled in years.

Back at her motel, Lucille gets out her cheap liquor and prepares to take a shower, when 16-year-old geek ROY comes to her door. She tells him to fuck off, but Roy will not be turned away. He has several panic attacks, which make him stutter, but he manages to tell her that he was sent by her estranged granddaughter LULU and he wants to set up the “Rematch of the Century” between her and her arch rival Headlock Liplock, whom she lost the National Federation of Women’s Wrestling championship to a decade before. Lucille eventually gets rid of Roy.

We find out that Lulu is a high school wrestler who hates Roy, even though there were the best of friends as little children.

The next day, at her greeter gig, Lucille is annoyed to find out that Roy is back in her face. She agrees to a rematch if he can find Headlock Liplock, who disappeared from the wrestling tour the same time she did. Lucille hates Headlock – whose name is Alice – because she won the championship and stole her husband – promoter ZANE PUCKETT – all on one night.

Roy finds Alice in a nursing home, but after seeming like a vegetable, Alice comes alive and tells Roy she’s actually been hiding out at the nursing home, biding her time. She is now ready to re-emerge and will wrestle Lucille again, but Lucille has to prove she’s up to it.

Roy arranges a match for Lucille with Siberian wrestler NADYA NUTSACK who drops dead during the match, sending Lucille into a tailspin. Roy manages to get her back on track for a rematch with Alice, but that rematch is canceled when Roy doesn’t show up for it. Lucille and Alice learn that Roy is in the hospital after getting beat-up by Lulu’s “entourage” at school.

Zane Puckett finds Roy and tells him he will be a “ghost promoter” for a new rematch. He’ll put up the money and the arena, but doesn’t want Lucille or Alice to know. Roy’s school assigns Lulu to do community service for her grandmother because of Roy’s beating. Roy asks her to set up a social media presence for Lucille. Lucille tries to bridge the gap with Lulu, who hates her, but it doesn’t work.

Alice beats Lucille in the rematch. Lucille decides she will let Roy be her manager and set up matches for her so that she can finally make her way back to the top.

  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Magnificent Hubba Hubba

Recommended by

  • Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend: Magnificent Hubba Hubba

    This play about aging women wrestlers getting their groove back is wonderful. It has two fabulous roles for older women - such a rarity! - and a great part for a teenage boy as well. I love that this story is carried by characters outside the typical age range of who anchors a show. It is funny, sad, surprising, and full of spectacle. I would love to see this staged!

    This play about aging women wrestlers getting their groove back is wonderful. It has two fabulous roles for older women - such a rarity! - and a great part for a teenage boy as well. I love that this story is carried by characters outside the typical age range of who anchors a show. It is funny, sad, surprising, and full of spectacle. I would love to see this staged!

  • Lucy Wang: Magnificent Hubba Hubba

    Tour de force! Such a joy to watch. Love the "stable of sin." Brilliant performances, production and direction by Dayton Playhouse too.

    Tour de force! Such a joy to watch. Love the "stable of sin." Brilliant performances, production and direction by Dayton Playhouse too.

  • Cheryl Bear: Magnificent Hubba Hubba

    A marvelous fight as two wrestlers get back in the ring for their great comeback! Fun for all, this is a win!

    A marvelous fight as two wrestlers get back in the ring for their great comeback! Fun for all, this is a win!

View all 7 recommendations

Awards

  • Dayton FutureFest
    Dayton Playhouse
    Audience Choice
    2017
  • Dayton FutureFest
    Dayton Playhouse
    Winner
    2017