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Music By Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics By Stephen Sondheim
Book/Libretto by: Julius J. Epstein
Based on: on the play Front Porch in Flatbush by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein
Produced by: Bridewell Theatre Company
Directed by: Carol Metcalfe and Clive Paget
Opened: December 17, 1997
Theatre: London's Bridewell Theatre
Licensing Agent: Music Theatre International
Synopsis
ACT ONE
Scene One
It is seven o’clock on a Saturday night in early spring of 1929. A
group of friends, The Gang, has gathered on GENE GORMAN’S front
porch in Flatbush, Brooklyn. DINO, 19, sits at the piano and plays
ragtime music. ARTIE, slightly older, sits on the sofa and strums a
ukulele. RAY reads a newspaper. TED, on the phone, sticks his head
out the door and tells Dino to stop playing. Ted tries to set up a
date with a girl who turns him down while the rest of the Gang
laments their lack of female company on a Saturday night in the
song, “Saturday Night.” The Gang contemplates going to the movies
when BOBBY, 16, shows up and announces that he wants to be alone in
the house with his married lady friend. Gene’s mother is gone, and
his father is on the road. Because Bobby is a runner on Wall Street,
Dino asks him his opinion on stock for Montana Chem. Gene is an
order clerk with a brokerage house, and the gang is going to pool
their money to buy a thousand shares on margin. As he goes inside
the house, Bobby tells them to spend their money on women and to
leave quickly because his woman is coming. HANK and CELESTE, a
married couple a few years older than the rest of the gang, show up.
When asked about their plans, they announce that they are going to
the movies at the Midwood. Ray says that the gang will go with them.
Celeste, thinking that five guys and one woman would look bad,
suggests calling her friend, MILDRED, to invite her along. Although
the gang does not want to spend a lot of money on her, they
eventually agree. While Celeste calls Mildred, Hank secretly adds
his money to the Montana Chem pool. Celeste returns and says that
Mildred will come on the condition that someone must pick her up.
Mumbling, Ray leaves to get her. Bobby comes out with GENE, who is
dressed in a tuxedo and tails. Gene lets Bobby have the house for
the evening and tells him he’ll call from the corner drugstore
before he comes home. The Gang is impressed with Gene’s elegant
clothes. Gene sees his clothes as a ticket to the beautiful world of
Park Avenue, which he describes in the song, “Class.” As he sings,
he fantasizes dancing with beautiful people. The Gang tries to pull
Gene out of his fantasy and urges him to be himself. However, Gene
is determined to crash a high-class party at the Plaza Hotel and
asks the gang for cab fair. Celeste volunteers to press Gene’s silk
scarf and goes inside. The Gang gives Hank’s money to Gene, and Hank
reminds everyone to not tell Celeste. Bobby expresses his
uncertainty about Gene’s stock tip, but Gene reassures them all that
he works for the best firm on Wall Street and that one of the junior
partners has taken a liking to him. Gene tells the Gang that
everyone around them is getting rich, and that by Saturday, they
could all have a profit of 10,000 dollars. The Gang agrees to invest
in Montana Chem as Gene goes back in the house. PINHEAD, Gene’s
cousin, shows up with his car, a Pierce-Arrow. The Gang does not
like Pinhead, who in turn does not like being called Pinhead.
Pinhead’s real name is Eugene Gorman, which is the same name as
Gene’s, but the Gang calls him Pinhead so there will be no
confusion. Pinhead has to go down to Miami to visit his wife, and he
wants Gene to put his car in the garage while he is in Miami. Ray
returns with MILDRED. In the song, “Delighted I’m Sure,” Celeste
introduces Mildred to the Gang. Gene and Pinhead leave in Pinhead’s
car. The Gang, Hank, Celeste, and Mildred leave for the movies.
Bobby waves goodbye to them all.
Scene Two
At the Plaza Hotel, a male vocalist sings the ballad, “Love’s A
Bond” accompanied by a band. A DOOR ATTENDANT stops Gene at the door
to the party because Gene does not have a ticket. Gene tries various
excuses, but the Attendant does not let him in. The Attendant also
stops HELENE, a beautiful young woman, who does not have a ticket.
Helene walks away and begins to cry. Gene attempts to help her and
loans her his handkerchief. Speaking with a southern accent, Helene
tells Gene that she had a fight with her fiancé. Gene says that his
date developed a terrible headache, and he had to drive her home in
his Pierce. Gene introduces himself as Gene Goulding Gorman the
third. Helene introduces herself as Helene Calhoun Forrester. When
neither can think of anything else to say, they begin to dance
together in the hallway and sing the song, “Isn’t It.” After the
song, Gene suggests they go for a drive in the Pierce because Dad’s
in California with the Rolls. As they leave together, Helene turns
to the Attendant and sticks her tongue out at him.
Scene Three
The Gang comes out of the movie house and in the song, “In The
Movies,” they complain about the money they blew on a cab, a hat
check, and gum. In the meantime, Celeste and Mildred stare at the
lobby cards and reflect on the dreams in the movies which are
different from their reality.
Scene Four
Back at Gene’s house several hours later, Bobby relaxes on the sofa
when Gene calls him from the drugstore. He is alone but pretends his
lady is there. As he finishes rumpling the cushions on the sofa, the
Gang, Hank, Celeste, and Mildred come back from the movies. Mildred
and Celeste, still hungry after Chinese food, go into the kitchen to
make sandwiches. The Gang is impressed with what they think Bobby
did in their absence. Ray, meanwhile, tries to get money from the
others to pay for the evening. Gene returns. Celeste orders everyone
in the house to help with the sandwiches, and she proceeds to grill
Gene on his evening. Excited, Gene tells Celeste that he met a
member of an old Southern family this evening, but he will probably
will never see her again. Celeste volunteers to set him up with her
sister, Clara. The Gang comes back out onto the porch as the phone
rings. It’s a girl calling for Gene. She will not give him her name,
but she wants to come over to his house for a few minutes.
Intrigued, Gene agrees to meet her and goes upstairs to change into
something a little more comfortable. In the meantime, in the song,
“Exhibit A,” Bobby explains to the Gang how he seduces girls. After
the song ends, Gene returns in a silk lounging robe and sends
everyone away. The mysterious girl turns out to be Helene (whose
real name is Helen Fogel). She had found Gene because he had
accidentally left his driver’s license with her. The real Helen
lives in Brooklyn, and her father is in the wholesale chicken
business. Gene also admits that he lied about his middle name and
that he didn’t go to Dartmouth. However, he is playing the stock
market, so he should have a couple thousand dollars by the end of
the week. Helen calls the stock market the greatest fantasy of all
the fantasies in their lives. Gene puts on a record and the song, “A
Moment With You” plays. Gene and Helen sing along with it and dance
together. As they move together to kiss, the record hits a crack and
scratches. Helen and Gene break apart, and they realize that the
Gang is watching them. Gene tells her that they must see him make
out or he loses face. For the Gang, Gene and Helen kiss in front of
a light and then turn off the light. Then, Gene helps Helen slip out
the back door.
Scene Five
On the street, Dino, Ray, Ted, and Bobby see Gene making out with
Helen and lament their lack of female companionship in a reprise of
the song, “Saturday Night.”
Scene Six
At a luxury apartment on Sutton Place in Manhattan, MR. FLETCHER, a
rental agent, shows Gene and Helen the den. Gene pretends to be
interested in renting the apartment. When Gene asks to see the wine
cellar, Fletcher leaves to get the key. Helen asks Gene why he is
wasting Fletcher’s time, but Gene likes to window shop. Besides, he
has the Gang’s stock money in his wallet, and soon, he will have
more. The Gang can be heard coming into the apartment. Helen, who
had been looking forward to spending the day with just Gene, wonders
why he asked the whole neighborhood to come along with them. Gene
tells her that he grew up with his friends, and he couldn’t leave
them behind. The Gang is impressed with the apartment, but Helen
sends them away before Mr. Fletcher comes back. In the meantime,
Gene fantasizes about living in a beautiful and expensive apartment
with a leather armchair, Napoleon Brandy, fireplace, and an issue of
Town and Country. Helen bursts Gene’s fantasy and tells him that he
will never live like that. He’ll marry Celeste’s sister and will
never be rich. Mr. Fletcher returns at the same time that the Gang
comes back in. The Gang makes fun of the apartment and embarrasses
Gene in front of Mr. Fletcher. After the Gang leaves, Gene,
humiliated, tells Fletcher that he would like to take the apartment.
When Fletcher asks for a deposit, Gene gives him the stock money
from the Gang and tells him to send the receipt to his brokerage
house. After Fletcher leaves, Helen questions Gene’s actions. Gene
had to do it because of way Fletcher made him feel like a phony.
Helen reminds Gene that he is a phony. Gene assures her that in
three months, after he makes a killing on Montana Chem stock,
everything will be fine. Helen reminds Gene that he gave the money
for the stock to Fletcher for the apartment. Gene realizes that he
could get the money if he borrows it against his cousin’s Pierce as
a one-week loan. Helen, realizing that Gene is not going to give up,
leaves resigned. Gene stays a moment more in the fantasy apartment.
Scene Seven
During the next week, the Gang watches Montana Chem stock go down
instead of up in the song, “Montana Chem.”
Scene Eight
Helen shows up at Gene’s front porch the following Saturday Night at
10:30 PM. Gene, wearing a tux and tails, wonders why she is dressed
informally. Helen thought they were going to stay in and listen to
the radio. Helen meets Mr. Fisher from the Finance Company that gave
Gene the loan on Pinhead’s car. Gene tells Helen that he got another
week as Mr. Fisher drives off in Pinhead’s car. When Helen scolds
Gene for selling his cousin’s car, Gene assures her that when
Montana Chem goes up, he will buy it back. Helen reminds Gene that
Montana Chem went down last week, but Gene maintains his faith in
Montana Chem going up. Worried that working on Wall Street will ruin
Gene, Helen offers him a job in her father’s company as a chicken
plucker. Gene tells Helen that if she loves him, she will never
mention the chicken job again. Helen admits that she does love him,
and they kiss. Helen then sings the ballad, “So Many People” in
which she realizes that she may not get her fantasy but much more
than she expected—-the love of one man for her instead of everyone
else. As Helen and Gene kiss again, the Gang bursts in on them. They
are arguing over money and movies. Mildred introduces her friend
FLORENCE who suggests they all go to a speakeasy. Ray reminds
everyone that they can not afford speakeasies because they have to
pay the margin on the stock. Gene announces that he will pay the
extra margin on Monday. The Gang cries out in disbelief, and Helen
begins to cry. The Gang look at her in astonishment. Gene announces
that he and Helen are engaged. Helen looks at Gene in astonishment.
The Gang begins to celebrate with Dino improvising on the piano. In
the song, “One Wonderful Day,” Celeste sings about how wonderful
marriage is and how happy they will be. However, Bobby warns Gene
that marriage to one woman becomes boring and routine. Celeste and
Bobby argue, but in the end, everyone agrees that it is a wonderful
day for Helen and Gene. At this point, Pinhead shows up and asks
where his car is. Gene says he does not know where the car is and
suggests that it might have been stolen. As the Gang continues to
sing, Pinhead calls the police to report a stolen car.
ACT TWO
Scene One
It is seven o’clock on a Saturday night on Gene’s front porch one
week later. The Gang is there, and they are dateless. Artie, trying
to set up a date, is on the phone with Florence who turns him down.
Mildred says she’ll talk to her and goes into the house with the
phone. The Gang, frustrated, sings a reprise of “Saturday Night.”
Mildred returns with a definite maybe from Florence. Celeste comes
on and asks if there has been any word from Gene. No one has seen
him, and Celeste is worried even though Gene did sell something that
did not belong to him. In the meantime, Montana Chem has fallen off
the board. Gene nervously rushes on and asks if anyone has been
looking for him. Artie tells him that Pinhead, Mr. Fisher, and a
detective type have been looking for him. Celeste asks Gene if he
really sold Pinhead’s car. Gene admitted that he might have, but he
does not have much time. He only came back to pick up his tailcoat.
At the same time, Mr. Fisher and CLUNE, a detective, show up. Gene
runs off to hide in the cellar. When Clune threatens to search the
entire house, Artie, a law student, steps in and demands to see a
search warrant. Clune, followed by Fisher, leaves to call the
station. Gene returns. When Celeste asks him where he has been, Gene
says he’s been in his apartment on Sutton Place. When asked where he
got the money for the apartment, Gene admits that he used the stock
money to put a deposit on the apartment and then took out a loan on
Pinhead’s car to purchase the stock and then sold Pinhead’s car in
order to cover the margin. Although Gene is probably on his way to
prison, the Gang agrees to help him. As Clune and Fisher return,
Gene grabs his tailcoat and tells them he’ll be on Ocean Parkway.
Clune and Fisher begin to search the house when Helen shows up
dressed formally. When Clune asks her about Gene’s whereabouts,
Helen says she does not know and she’s worried sick. Mr. Fisher
tells Clune that if Helen is there, Gene will be there. Mr. Fisher
then leaves for his pinochle game. Clune continues to search the
house as Celeste and Mildred tell Helen that Gene is waiting on
Ocean Parkway. Pinhead shows up looking for Gene. Even though
Pinhead got his car back, it was ruined and requires serious
maintenance. Gene, having seen Fisher leave and thinking the coast
is clear, returns and stops short when he sees Pinhead who calls him
a dirty thief. Hearing Pinhead’s shouting, Clune comes out onto the
porch and asks Pinhead his name. Pinhead introduces himself as
Eugene Gorman. The Gang promptly pins Pinhead down and turns him
over to Clune as the Eugene Gorman that he’s looking for. Although
Pinhead says it’s all a mistake and that his name is Pinhead, Clune
takes him away to jail. The Gang waves goodbye and rushes away. The
phone rings. Helen picks it up and speaks with Mr. Fletcher as she
goes into the living room. Time passes. Celeste, Hank, and Gene walk
back to the porch. Helen comes out from the living room, hangs up
the phone, and tells Gene she was just calling home. Gene does not
know what to do, so he suggests spending the four hundred dollars he
has left. He also remembers the first time he met Helen in the
moonlight, but Helen reminds him that romantic memories will not
solve problems and takes him into the house to work out a solution.
Alone on the porch, Celeste asks Hank why he does not talk about the
moonlight. Hank reminds Celeste that there was no moon on the night
of their first date. They then recount the small details of their
first date in the song, “I Remember That.”
Scene Two
It is four o’clock in the morning at the Dakota Doran nightclub.
Gene and Helen are drinking at a table as couples dance. Gene and
Helen had agreed to go to as many places as he wanted before he
turns himself in to the police. They are at their fifth stop, and
Helen has souvenirs from all their stops. Gene orders another round
as a FEMALE SINGER starts to sing “Love’s a Bond”. Helen thinks Gene
is acting obnoxious, and they argue. Gene gives a twenty to the
HEADWAITER and asks for a snappy tune. Helen asks for a check as the
Headwaiter mentions that they have a roulette wheel in the back
room. Helen wants to leave, but Gene loudly asks the Headwaiter to
put a hundred on number 27 on the roulette wheel. The Waiter takes
the money. Helen disapproves, but Gene has a feeling about 27. The
Waiter returns, tells him he lost, and gives him two drinks on the
house. As the band breaks into a snappy version of “Love’s A Bond,”
Gene realizes that he has no money left. While he realizes his
dreams of wealth and class are ridiculous to some, he says he would
rather die than not belong to a world of class and wealth. Helen
shrugs and thinks that might be a good idea. Gene is shocked by
Helen’s calm reaction. Helen reaches into her purse, pulls out a
gun, and shoves it across the table at him. Gene shouts at Helen to
get out. Helen starts for the door. Gene picks up the gun. A Woman
in the nightclub screams. No one moves. Gene holds the gun to his
own head. Helen suggests his ear. Gene holds the gun to his ear and
pulls the trigger. Click. Gene staggers forward. Helen kneels beside
him. Gene touches the water running out of his ear. Helen shows him
the gun, which is a souvenir from The Nut Club. Helen tries to hold
Gene, but he twists away. In the song, “All For You,” she explains
that everything she does is for Gene’s own good. Nevertheless, Gene,
humiliated, runs away from her, and Helen is left alone.
Scene Three
Later that night, Celeste, Dino, Ray, Ted, Bobby, Hank, Artie,
Mildred, and Florence are gathered in front of the police station.
Gene is nowhere to be found. Celeste suggests they pool their money
to pay Mr. Fisher. When Hank admits that he also went in on the
syndicate, Celeste is furious and blames the whole Gang for Gene’s
problems. After all, they all knew Gene could not handle money. Dino
declares that if Gene gets five years, he’ll take two and half of
it. In the song, “That Kind of A Neighborhood,” the Gang reminds
Celeste that in times of crisis, neighbors help each other out.
After the song, Helen comes in looking for Gene. She is worried that
he might kill himself for real, and they must find him. Knowing the
police could help, the Gang rushes into the Police Station.
Scene Four
The Gang runs up the LIEUTENANT at the front desk. When Celeste
gives them the name Eugene Gorman, the Lieutenant and Clune become
confused. Celeste explains that there are TWO Eugene Gormans. Just
then, a car screeches to a halt, and Gene enters in formal evening
wear. He sends Ray out to pay the cab. Helen starts to cry. After
leaving her, Gene had run outside, and realized that the world was
beautiful, so he decided to not kill himself. Instead, he is going
to turn himself in. Just then, Mr. Fletcher arrives. The former
tenant of the apartment on Sutton Place wants to move back
immediately and is prepared to pay Gene for his inconvenience. Mr.
Fletcher is prepared to pay eleven hundred to Gene on the spot.
Apparently, he had spoken with Helen earlier about the whole matter.
At first Gene is mad at Helen for not telling him and letting him
torture himself, but then he embraces her overjoyed. Celeste
explains it all up to the Lieutenant. Helen had wanted Gene to work
through his own mistakes, and she insists that he stop working on
Wall Street and work for her father instead. However, she gives Gene
the option of living at her house or his house. In the song “What
More Do I Need,” Gene embraces Helen and a middle class urban
existence with tiny apartments and noisy neighbors. The Gang and the
Police join in the song. Gene kisses Helen one last time and turns
himself in to the Lieutenant. He signs the blotter, Eugene Goulding
Gorman the Third. The Company sings a reprise of “One Wonderful Day”
as the sun rises over Brooklyn on a Sunday morning.
Song List
Act One
- Saturday Night - Dino, Bobby, Ray and Artie
- Class - Gene and Company
- Love's a Bond - Male Vocalist
- Isn't It? - Helen
- In the Movies - Celeste, Mildred, Usherette, Artie, Ray, Dino and Hank
- Exhibit A - Bobby
- A Moment With You - Male Vocalist, Helen and Gene
- Saturday Night (reprise) - Dino, Ray, Artie and Bobby
- So Many People - Helen, Gene
- One Wonderful Day - Celeste, Bobby, Hank, Dino, Artie, Ray, Mildred, Florence, Gene, Helen
Act Two
- Saturday Night (reprise) - Dino, Ray and Artie
- I Remember That - Hank, Celeste
- Love's a Bond (reprise) - Female Vocalist
- All for You - Helen
- It's That Kind of a Neighbourhood - Dino, Ray, Artie, Mildred, Celeste, Hank
- What More Do I Need? - Helen, Gene and Company
- One Wonderful Day (reprise) - Company
Cast List
James Millard, Maurice Yeoman, Jeremy David, Simon Greiff, Tracie Bennett, Mark Haddigan, Sam Newman, Gavin Lee, Rae Baker, Paul Brereton, Ashleigh Sendin & Anna Francolini
Misc. Show Information
- Set and Costume Designs by Bridget Kimak
- Musical Staging by Tim Flavin
- Lighting Designer Geoff Spain
- Production Manager Pete Bull
Stephen Sondheim's Unproduced 1954 Musical
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Added: Tue Aug 18 2009