Act I
Debonair but penniless Willoughby "Bill" Finch is set to marry
Long Island society gal Molly Farringdon, although he has not charmed his
formidable future mother-in-law. Bill's sassy former fiancée, May, has met and
piqued the interest of his affable friend and best man, Hale. Hale recognizes Bill's
valet, Spike, as an ex-convict; Spike is guarding the pearls that Bill has
bought for Molly as her wedding gift. Spike's sticky-fingered girlfriend,
Fanny, tries to persuade him to pocket the wedding gifts, but he wishes that
they could put their old prison days behind them.
May calls unexpectedly on Bill's wedding day, to say that she will soon arrive,
and she points out that they are still engaged. Bill and Hale scheme to
convince her that he is a ladies' man, and not worthy to marry her. Hale
catches Fanny trying to pocket the pearls and forces her to agree to help with Bill's
charade. May arrives; it turns out that she has been hired as a dressmaker for
the wedding by Molly's mother. May admits that she is no longer interested in Bill
and wishes him well, and she returns Hale's interest. But when Molly returns,
she is confronted by Fanny, who is pretending to be Bill's girlfriend – and the
pearls are missing.
Act II
That night, Hale hosts a party on the roof of Bill's Greenwich Village
apartment. Molly's mother has called of the wedding. May is flirting with
various men, making Hale jealous. Spike and Fanny arrive to announce that they
are now married. Fanny tells Spike that she does not have the pearls, but she
is very nervous when a British private detective shows up.
Molly comes to talk with Bill, and they have a romantic moment before her
mother shows up. Bill awkwardly tries to explain to Mrs. Farrington what
happened, and Hale asks May to marry him. But Molly and her mother find May at Bill's
bedroom door and conclude that Bill had been entertaining her in his apartment.
Finally, the real thief confesses, Molly finds out that May and Hale are
engaged, and a happy ending ensues with a double wedding.
Principals
(4 female; 4 male)
Molly Farringdon
Fanny Welch
May Barber
Miss Clarette Cup
Willoughby "Bill" Finch
Spike Hudgins (Will’s valet)
Hale Underwood
Cyril Twombley
Supporting
Parker
Mrs. Farringdon
William Watty
Miss Lettice Romayne
Miss Lotta Pommery
Miss Della Catessen
Miss Hallie Butt
Miss Sal Munn
Miss Marie Schino
Miss Mollie Gatawney
Miss Marion Etta Herring
Miss C. Ella Rhy
Miss Barbara O’Rhum
Miss May Anne Ayes
Miss Cassie Roll
Miss Virginia Hamm
Mr. Artie C. Hoke
Mr. B. Russell Sprout
Mr. C. Ollie Flower
Mr. H. Ash-Brown
Mr. Stewart Prune
Mr. Con Kearny