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Saturday Night

Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Julius J. Epstein
Based on the play Front Porch in Flatbush by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein
Produced by the Bridewell Theatre Company
Directed by Carol Metcalfe and Clive Paget
Set and Costume Designs by Bridget Kimak
Musical Staging by Tim Flavin
Lighting Designer Geoff Spain
Production Manager Pete Bull
Opened December 17, 1997 at London's Bridewell Theatre

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

Info

Stephen Sondheim's Unproduced 1954 Musical

Original Cast Included: James Millard, Maurice Yeoman, Jeremy David, Simon Greiff, Tracie Bennett, Mark Haddigan, Sam Newman, Gavin Lee, Rae Baker, Paul Brereton, Ashleigh Sendin & Anna Francolini

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212.541.4684
Fax 212.397.4684

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