 ERNEST IN LOVE
Music by Lee Pockriss, book and lyrics by Anne Croswell
Gramercy Arts Theatre (New York) 4 May, 1960 (111 perfs)
With a mixture of fresh tunes and witty lyrics,
Oscar Wilde's much loved comedy The Importance of Being Ernest is
given new dimensions. All the mad-cap elements make this an ideal
entertainment for all performing groups. Songs include,
"Lost", "A Handbag Is Not a Proper Mother", "My
Very First Impression"
and "A Wicked Man".
Synopsis
ACT I
The show opens on a shop-lined London street on
a summer afternoon. Lane, Algernon (Algy) Moncrieff's manservant,
with a marketing basket on his arm, enters. At the green grocer,
he meets Perkins, Jack Worthing's manservant. Here, Perkins learns
that Lady Bracknell and her daughter, Gwendolen, are coming over
to Algy's house for tea later that day. The two servants are then
besieged by various vendors (greengrocer, bootmaker, dancing master,
tobacconist, etc.) who are all upset because they are owed quite
a bit of money by both Jack and Algy. The opening number "Come
Raise Your Cup" has Lane and Perkins commenting on how the
rich never pay their debts is what makes the English society so
special. The merchants stop their complaining and join in.
Immediately following, at Jack Worthing's living
room in the heart of London, Jack is writing a letter to Lady Gwendolen
Fairfax. Perkins returns and reminds Jack about his debts, but
Jack doesn't seem to be too concerned about this. He is more interested
in the other news Perkins has for him - Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen
are gong to Algy's house for tea later that day. Actually, Algy's
flat would be the perfect setting for Jack to propose to Gwendolen.
Jack asks Perkins about proposing marriage to a woman; unfortunately,
Perkins doesn't have any real good advice since he was only engaged
once - and that was a misunderstanding. Alone Jack, dresses himself
for tea and sings "How Do You Find the Words" thinking
of just how he will propose to Gwendolen.
In Gwendolen's dressing room, about the same time,
she is there trying on a variety of hats. Her maid, Alice, has
told her that Jack will be at her cousin Algy's house for tea -
Perkins stopped by earlier to inform them, and Gwendolen wants
to look as beautiful as possible. She, too, has been invited there
for tea and is certain that Jack will propose marriage today. In
fact, she must find the perfect hat - since that's the first thing
a man notices about a woman. She and Alice sing "The Hat," and
by the song's end, they have found the just the right hat for a
marriage proposal.
The scene shifts to Algy's living room where tea
is set. Lane is giving the final once-over when the doorbell rings
- it's Jack who is "surprising" Algy. Algy informs Jack
that his Aunt Augusta (Lady Bracknell) and Cousin Gwendolen are
coming over. Jack tells Algy that he is excited about this coincidence
(He has actually planned it all along.) because he has come to
town expressly to propose to Gwendolen. Unfortunately, Algy informs
Jack that he will never be able to marry Gwendolen because his
aunt doesn't approve of him. You see, Jack and Gwendolen both flirt
with each other, and that is perfectly disgraceful as far as Lady
Bracknell is concerned. Also Algy doesn't give his consent. It
seems that Jack left a cigarette case at his house last time he
dined there with an inscription which read "From little Cecily,
with her fondest love, to her dear Uncle Jack. " When pressed,
Jack confesses that Cecily is actually his eighteen-year-old ward
with whom he lives in his country house. (Mr. Thomas Cardew, who
adopted Jack as a boy, stated in his will that he watch over his
grand-daughter, Cecily, after he die.) Also, in the country Jack
is known as Jack, but here in London as Ernest. "Jack," is
a guardian - a man of very high moral standards. However, he does
still like to play, so he tells people in the country that he has
a brother, Ernest, who gets into the worst trouble, and Jack goes
to town to rescue him. Algy actually believes him because he, too,
has invented another persona - a permanent invalid called Bunbury
whom he goes to visit in the country whenever he wishes to get
out of town and have a bit of fun. Jack at first sees this as very
distasteful and immoral; however, in the song "Mr. Bunbury" Algy
tells him that the invalid, Mr. Bunbury, is a necessity just like
bad brother Ernest. Jack is ready to get rid of Ernest if Gwendolen
only accepts to marry him. Algy tells him that he's crazy for every
man needs an Ernest or Bunbury.
Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen arrive, and after
a bit of conversation, Lady Bracknell announces to Algy that she
has arranged for Algy to have dinner with a young woman by the
name of Mary Farquar. Algy winces at the mention of her name and
simply tells his aunt that he can't join her and Miss Farquar for
dinner because Mr. Bunbury is sick once again and he must visit
him. Lady Bracknell goes into the music room with Algy for a little
concert - Jack and Gwendolen have a chance to be alone for a few
minutes. It is here that Jack/Ernest and Gwendolen admit that they
love each other passionately, and Jack proposes marriage to Gwendolen.
She tells him that she is ready to accept him. He sings the song "Perfection"
telling her all that she is to him. Upon hearing this, Gwendolen
informs him that she knew she would marry him because she's always
wanted to love someone named "Ernest." Jack asks her
if she would love him if his name were Jack rather than Ernest?
Absolutely not! She only loves Ernest. He kisses her to stop any
further analysis of the situation.
Lady Bracknell returns, and Gwendolen informs
her mother that she is engaged. Lady Bracknell tells her daughter
that an engagement is something that a young girl doesn't arrange
by herself, so she should wait in the carriage. Gwendolen waits
in the carriage while she talks with Jack. Lady Bracknell now questions
Jack about his breeding, and Jack informs her that actually he
didn't know either of his parents. The late Mr. Thomas Cardew found
him in a black handbag in the cloakroom at the Victoria Train Station.
The bag was given by mistake instead of his own. He raised Jack
as his own son. Lady Bracknell is rather concerned by all of this
as she sings "A Handbag Is Not A Proper Mother." If Jack/Ernest
wishes to be considered as a possible husband for her daughter,
he must find another mother and father because this will never
do. Upon stating this, she leaves.
Jack informs Algy that he must go home to the
country and straighten things out. He first needs to get rid of
Ernest forever by having him "die." Algy then asks Jack
what his ward, Cecily, is like and says that he'd like to meet
her. Cecily is only eighteen and is excessively pretty. In fact,
Jack knows that Cecily and Gwendolen are certain to be extreme
friends. Gwendolen reenters and informs Jack/Ernest that from the
expression on her mother's face it is evident that the they will
never marry, but nevertheless, she will have eternal devotion to
him. She gets his country address from him, and promises to communicate
daily. Listening in the corner, Algy carefully copies the address.
Jack escorts Gwendolen to her carriage, and Lane brings Algy different
clothes into which he gladly changes ready to go to Jack's house
in the country and have a bit of fun playing "Mr. Bunbury." (reprise)
The following day in the garden of Jack's country
Manor House, Cecily is watering the roses and the old spinster
Miss Prism (who watches Cecily) is knitting. Miss Prism tells Cecily
that she should be studying , since her guardian, Jack, has left
strict instructions. Cecily wishes that strict Uncle Jack would
let his wild brother, Ernest, come down. Maybe then they could
all have some fun.
Effie the maid announces that Dr. Chausable, the
local pastor, has arrived. Upon hearing this, Miss Prism starts
to primp. After a bit of conversation, Miss Prism fakes a slight
headache and asks to go for a stroll in the park with Dr. Chausable.
He accepts and the two leave. Upon their leaving, Effie announces
to Cecily that Jack's younger brother, Ernest, has arrived from
London. Cecily is quite intrigued at finally getting to meet him
and sings "A Wicked Man." Hopefully, he'll be everything
she has dreamt him to be. Effie returns with Ernest (In actuality,
it is Algy posing as Ernest.) He flirts terribly with Cecily, and
she enjoys it tremendously. Cecily hears Miss Prism and Dr. Chausable
returning from their walk, and pulls Ernest/Algy off with her.
Miss Prism, too, is flirting - basically telling Dr. Chausable
that he need's to get married. In the song "Metaphorically
Speaking"
Prism shows Dr. Chausable how a mature woman is like a flower in
full bloom. She finally has him dancing with his arms around her
when Jack enters. He is all dressed in the deepest mourning announcing
that his brother, Ernest, is dead in Paris. Cecily then enters
and announces a surprise - his brother Ernest is here for a visit.
Everyone is stunned by Ernest's "miraculous recovery" -
especially Jack. Jack is quite stunned/upset, but Cecily who is
completely enchanted with Algy/Ernest demands that Jack shake his
hand.
Jack and Algy are left alone and Algy announces
that he is ready to stay for a week. Also, he finds Cecily to be
a darling. Jack insists that Algy leave; however, Algy says that
if he is forced to he will wire Gwendolen to come down and see
the fraudulent life Jack is leading in the country. If Algy does
that, Jack will expose him to Cecily. Nevertheless, Jack is going
to change from his mourning clothes, and when he returns he will
arrange for Algy to leave on the next train. Algy left alone, he
sings a reprise of "A Wicked Man," getting ready to not
go anywhere and have a good bit of fun.
ACT II
The act opens at the country manor with the two
servants (Effie and Lane) in an embrace. They talk about Algy/Ernest's
infatuation with Cecily, but as Effie snuggles up to Lane, she
wagers that the two probably haven't gotten 'round to holding hands.
In the song "You Can't Make Love" they discuss this to
be so because basically all the upper class rules, regulations,
manners, morals, money, titles, names, etc. make it very difficult
to make love. The servants have it so much easier.
In the garden, Algy/Ernest enters and talks with
Cecily who is writing in her diary. Cecily informs him that her
uncle has informed her that Algy/Ernest has been called back to
town. He tells her that he's not leaving just yet because he must
first tell Cecily that she is the "visible personification
of absolute perfection." She copies his remarks into her diary
- something she loves to do. While singing "Lost" he
continues to tell her how beautiful she - he's "lost in her
spell."
She very intently writes it down. They finally embrace, and he
confesses that he is hopelessly in love with her and asks her to
marry him. She says that she will of course marry him because actually
they have been engaged for the last three months. You see, ever
since Uncle Jack told her about his wicked younger brother she
has been in love with him. She shows him a little ring on her finger
she has promised to always wear as a sign of their love. She also
has a box of letters from him. She both bought the ring and wrote
the letters since she never met him. (She even broke off the engagement
once and forgave him.) Upon hearing this, he is so overtaken with
love that he kisses her. Most of all, she tells him that she loves
the name Earnest. She admits that she could never love someone
with a name like Algernon. Algy/Ernest goes out on some important
business - to be christened by Dr. Chausable and have his name
changed.
Effie announces to Cecily that Gwendolen has arrived
to see her Uncle Jack. Jack is off at the rector's doing something
(also arranging to be christened) so Cecily talks with Gwendolen.
Right from the beginning, the two appear to be good friends. In
the song "My Very First Impression," they learn about
each other. They also learn that they are both engaged to whom
they think is the same man - "Ernest." After a bit of
tea and battle, they decide that they now hate each other and are
not going to let "Ernest" go off with the other.
Jack returns and goes to kiss Gwendolen who pushes
him away asking if he is engaged to Cecily. She now learns that
he really is Cecily's Uncle Jack. Algy comes in and Cecily points
out that he is the real Ernest. Gwendolen exposes him as her cousin,
Algernon. Both women find out that they have been deceived. Jack
confesses that in truth he never had a wicked brother Ernest. The
girls, angry about all that has happened, bond once again and go
into the house.
Jack is quite upset, but Algy is quite nonplused
by it all and simply sits - eating the ladies' leftovers from tea
("The Muffin Song") Jack wants all of this to end and
simply wishes that Algy would leave.
Gwendolen and Cecily have gone to the morning
room of the Manor House and are both upset. Jack and Algy both
enter, and after some questioning, admit that they assumed alternate
identities only in the hopes of meeting the ladies. The ladies
are flattered, but neither cannot get passed the fact that neither
man's Christian name is actually Ernest. Both men say that they
are going to be christened that very afternoon and change their
names for the ladies. The ladies are both so touched by all this
that they pledge their
"Eternal Devotion" (in song) to the men and the men in
return.
Immediately after this, Lady Bracknell enters
and learns that her daughter is engaged to Jack. She forbids it.
Upon hearing about Algy and Cecily's situation she is still concerned;
however, upon learning that Cecily is worth quite a bit of money
gives her consent to the marriage. Jack, on the other hand, says
that the engagement is out of the question because she cannot marry
without his consent till she comes of age, and he under the circumstances
he is not going to give his consent. Under the terms of her grandfather's
will, Cecily doesn't come of age until she is thirty-five. Jack
will of course reconsider if Lady Bracknell does. As far as she
is concerned, this is quite out of the question. They all sing
a reprise of "A Handbag Is Not A Proper Mother."
Cecily tells Jack that she can't spend all the
time until she's thirty-five with a short-sighted old lady like
Miss Prism watching over her. Lady Bracknell, upon hearing Miss
Prism's name, is quite intrigued and wants to see the woman immediately.
she hurries off to find her. With Lady Bracknell gone, the four
lovers sing a reprise of "The Muffin Song" where they
ponder the situation and decide that they must elope this very
afternoon - as improper as it may be. They just need to find a
way around Lady Bracknell.
The scene shifts to the lawn in front of the church
- only a few minutes later. Dr. Chausable is preparing for the
christenings of Jack and Algy. The group enters and Miss Prism
comes out of the church; Lady Bracknell spots her. Miss Prism shrinks
and looks for some means of escape. Lady Bracknell calls to her
and demands to know where the male baby she left in her charge
twenty-eight years ago is. The baby was in a baby carriage which
was discovered three weeks later with no baby - just a three volume
novel of revolting sentimentality.
Miss Prism admits that she took the baby out of
his carriage while taking him for a stroll, and also took out the
book which she was writing from her handbag. She got distracted
and put the baby in the handbag and novel in the carriage. She
accidentally deposited the bag in the cloakroom of the Victoria
Railway Station. Upon hearing this story, Jack leaves and returns
with a black handbag which Prism says is hers - it even has her
initials in it. As it turns out, Jack was the baby placed in that
handbag. Lady Bracknell then tells Jack that he is actually the
son of her sister - thereby making him Algy's elder brother. His
name as it turns out is actually Ernest. Therefore, he isn't a
fraud after all and doesn't need to re christened.
So in the end, they all end up happily together
(Even Miss Prism and Dr. Chausable get together.) and all sing
a finale aptly titled "Ernest In Love."
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