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Summary
StoryThe Grass Harp opens in the backyard of the house of the spinster
Talbo sisters. Dolly Talbo, adopted nephew Collin
Talbo, and black servant-companion Catherine Creek
spot a cat-shaped cloud floating overhead, a special
sign that it's Dropsy Cure Weather. When Dr. Ritz arrives at the Talbo household, he reveals his plan to market Dolly's genuine gypsy dropsy cure, in bottles with phosphorescent labels that glow in the dark. Dolly, reluctant to part with the secret recipe she had learned as a child from gypsies, is advised by Dr. Ritz to Think Big Rich. Verena, fired with dreams of being a happily married millionairess, sees Dr. Ritz off, and urges her sister to write down the dropsy cure recipe. Dolly reluctantly complies, hearing in her mind the rousing strains of their grandfather's favourite victory march. Assuming that Dolly will do as she wants, Verena hurries off to tell Dr. Ritz the good news. Dolly tears up the patent forms, and tells Catherine and Collin that she is moving out of Verena's house. Catherine argues that the house belongs to them, not Verena. Dolly is adamant; the victory march comes back to her as, in a burst of rebellious glory, she, Collin, and Catherine march off to live in the nearby tree house where the sisters once played as children. As the three companions settle into the huge tree that is to be their home, Dolly hears her grandfather's voice echoing their song in the dry Indian grass. Judge Charlie Cool, long an admirer of Dolly, wanders by, and decides he might be better off taking up residence with them. As twilight falls, the four friends share a bottle of dropsy cure and exchange confidences. Judge Cool observes that Dolly Talbo has always been a free spirit, an acceptor of life. Catherine reveals that Dolly is not the only acceptor of life. Colin, experiencing mixed feelings about his conflicts between love and sex, asks the Judge for advice. Dolly expresses the thought that if, as Judge Cool contends, nature is a chain of life, then her life has always been a chain of love. A shooting star is seen in the evening sky. They fall asleep, except for Collin, who explores the night, alone. In the morning he is awakened by his true love, Maude Riordan. He begs her to stay with him for just a day. Catherine jolts awake, sees them embracing, and accuses Maude of trying to seduce Collin. Collin invites Maude to come live with them in the tree house; a babble of conflicting voices arises, when Collin insists on leaving with Maude. Enter Babylove, a soulfully flamboyant lady evangelist with five blue-eyed, out-of-wedlock children in tow. Babylove's car has run out of fuel, and she decides to display her special brand of healing power. She preaches to her new friends as The Babylove Miracle Show gets underway. She tells them the story of her life, and begins to try to cure Catherine's aching back. She lets down Dolly's blonde hair, brings her together with Judge Cool and guides Maude into Collin's willing arms. They enjoy new sensations of love and joy and, in turn, Catherine, Dolly, and Collin testify they too believe in love. An outraged Verena arrives on the scene, with Dr.
Ritz and
the Town sheriff. A melee breaks out, ending with the arrest
of Babylove and her new followers. Babylove leads Dolly, Catherine,
Collin, Maude,
Judge Cool and the children off to jail. Behind bars, Catherine
gives voice to the fact she considers
herself a genuine Indian princess.
Verena arrives at the jail to have Dolly released in exchange for
the The runaways jubilantly return to the tree-house
but their celebration is interrupted by the
threatening Sheriff. Verena enters, exposes Dr. Ritz for what he
is, and reveals, for the first
time, how vulnerable she is, how deeply she needs her sister. Dolly
climbs down from
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Scenes and SettingsThe action takes place at the Talbo House, in Joy City and in River Woods, in the past.
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MUSICAL NUMBERS
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Original Cast(in order of appearance):
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Instrumentation:
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The Grass Harp
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