It is the late 1930s. Louie Blore, the latest winner of the Irish Sweepstakes, is the center of attention as he returns to the Club Petite, where the former bathroom attendant is suddenly the most popular man in town; everyone wants a piece of Louie’s prize money. Reminded of an old promise, he gives some to his friends Harry and Alice, a dance team. Vi, a co-worker who repeatedly turned him down in the past, is now trying to convince Louie that she is the one for him. But he wants to marry May Daly, the club’s featured singer.
May is stunned by Louie’s sudden proclamation of love, and she turns him down. Her old flame Alex (Alice’s brother) has returned to town, and they’re going out that night to another club. Alice refuses to help Louie by telling her brother to “lay off” May. Charley, a reform schooler whom Louie is training to replace him at the club, suggests knocking out Alex with a Mickey Finn so that he’ll miss his date with May. When Louie gets Alex to agree to a drink with him, he spikes one of the glasses. Along the way, he forgets which glass is which. Louie ends up drinking from the wrong glass, knocking himself out.
Louie dreams, influenced by a movie about Du Barry he had seen earlier in the day. In his fantasy, May is Comtesse Du Barry, and he is King Louis XV of France. Others from the Club Petite are also present, including his rival, Alex. His court is populated by a throng of courtiers, noble ladies and gentlemen, servants and guards, but he is interested only in the attention of Du Barry, his “mistress in name only.” Though he is the richest and most powerful man in the land, he experiences only frustration and misery because Du Barry keeps him at arm’s length.
Alexandre is captured and on trial for his life because he wrote a popular song critical of Du Barry and, by extension, the King. However, a brief encounter between Du Barry and Alexandre before the trial reveals his motivation for his hostility towards her: he is madly in love with her. She is attracted to him as well, and she lets him escape. Du Barry’s bed chamber becomes Grand Central Station as all the principals converge there.
Du Barry helps in Alexandre’s defense at his trial. Du Barry convinces Louis that the accused actually likes him, and the King, in his delight, offers Alexandre a job as Poet Laureate. Alexandre repudiates Du Barry’s defense and quickly escapes.
The next night, Alexandre wants to see Du Barry again. Alisande [Alice], a Marquise and Du Barry’s confidante, assists the lovers while her own suitor, the Captain of the Guard [Harry], is on the lookout for the escapee. Du Barry trades her watch to the infantile Dauphin [Charley] for a Royal Pass, which Alisande gives to her brother Alexandre.
The capture of Alexandre gives Louis a golden opportunity: after Du Barry begs Louis to spare Alexandre’s life, he agrees in exchange for a long-overdue night with her. However, his “heir to the throne” accidentally wounds him with an arrow, and the King is left unfulfilled, humiliated and in considerable pain.
Awakened from his dream, Louie now realizes May should be with Alex, and he gives them the money they need to be together. The tax man shows up to inform Louie of the government’s share. All in all, he is now penniless as before. He reclaims his old job, ending no better off than when he began.
Principals
Louie Blore / His Most Royal Majesty, The King of France
May Daly / Mme. La Comtesse du Barry
Charley / His Royal Highness, The Dauphin of France
Alice Barton / Mme. La Marquisse Alisande de Vernay
Alex Barton / Alexandre
Harry Norton / Captain of King’s Guard
Vi Hennessey / Mme. La Duchesse de Villardel
Supporting Roles
Ann Todd, Starlet of the Club Petite / Mme. La Duchesse de Grammont
Mary Gray, Starlet of the Club Petite / Mme. La Vicomtesse de Roquefort
Molly Wincor, Starlet of the Club Petite / Mme. La Marquise du Pont L'Eveque
Peggy Brown, Starlet of the Club Petite / La Baronne de Brie
Ruth Frederick, Starlet of the Club Petite / Mme. Le Princesse Gruyere
Sigana Sigan, Starlet of the Club Petite / Mme. La Comtesse de Camembert
Mme. La Duchesse du Coeur Flottant, Dames de la Cour
Bill Kelly / Docteur Michel
Florian / Zamore
Jones / Le Duc de Choiseul
Cosette
Gateman
Henri
Manuel Gomez
Pierre
Radio Announcer
Rene
Ensemble
Internationals, dancers, courtiers, nobles, servants and guards