Musicals at Richter

During the summer of 1935 in Greenwich Village, New York, a tour guide leads a group of sightseers on a tour of "Christopher Street" and its colorful citizens.

When the tourists have departed, the witty Ruth Sherwood arrives with her pretty younger sister Eileen. The two have just arrived from Ohio, determined to forge a life in the big city as a writer (Ruth) and an actress (Eileen). Soon they are living in a basement apartment, recently vacated by a local prostitute Violet, loaned by the "lovable" landlord, Mr. Appopolous and shaken frequently by dynamite from the construction of a subway underneath them and Violet's returning customers. The sisters are soon stricken with homesickness for "Ohio".

The next morning, Ruth and Eileen set out to try their hand at "Conquering New York", only to find defeat and humiliation. Eileen, at least, has met Frank Lippencott, a local Walgreen's manager who has developed a crush on her. Ruth, however, is left to wonder at her sister's magnetic appeal and her own unique romantic abilities; a talent for repelling men so successful that she could write a book entitled "One Hundred Easy Ways" to lose a man.

Eventually, Ruth talks her way into the offices of a short story magazine, where she meets Bob Baker. Bob likes Ruth, but advises her that she has little chance of success, and tells her flat out "What A Waste" of money and time it was to come to New York. Undaunted, Ruth leaves three stories with Bob in the hope that he will read them.

Meanwhile, Eileen has been eating all of her lunches (free, naturally), at Walgreen's, and finds herself "A Little Bit In Love" with Frank. Bob arrives at the apartment to talk to Ruth, and Eileen invites him to dinner.

The upstairs neighbors, Wreck, an out-of-season American football player, and his live-in lover, Helen, ask the girls to hide Wreck while Helen's mother Mrs. Wade is in town. Eileen happily agrees to stow him in their apartment. Wreck describes his lucky history as a student at Trenton Tech, who got by on his ability to "Pass The Football".

Eileen has invited Frank Lippencott, Bob Baker, and Chick Clark, a slimy newspaper scribe who she has met with the object of furthering Ruth's career, over for potluck supper. Unaware of each other's feelings, both girls find themselves attracted to Bob. Soon all five of them are seated around the cramped apartment trying to fill the awkward silence, in "Conversation Piece". Meanwhile Helen deals with her overbearing mother.

Ruth and Bob talk over the quality of her stories, and he advises her to write about what she knows rather than flights of fancy. Both say several wrong things, and he finally tells her off. He soon regrets it as Ruth rushes inside in tears, and Bob is left to sing of his inability to find "A Quiet Girl" to love.

Anxious to be alone with Eileen, Chick Clark creates a bogus assignment for Ruth. He sends her off to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to interview a group of Brazilian sailors. She quickly realizes that their sole interest is to learn the "Conga".

The sailors follow Ruth home, where the girls soon find themselves in chaotic confusion, as all the citizens of Christopher Street join the conga line. Ruth runs into Bob and gives him a piece of her mind, while Eileen is hauled off to jail for causing the riot.

In the local jail Eileen finds herself practically running the place, with Officer Lonigan and his brigade of doting Irish police officers at her beck and call. Given her name, they are convinced that she is Irish, and they serenade her with "My Darlin' Eileen". Ruth comes to assure her that she will bail her out as soon as she collects the money from her new job as a promoter for the Village Vortex, a local nightclub. At the club, Ruth "digs the rhythm" of "Swing". Meanwhile, Wreck is masquerading as a wealthy art collector to meet Helen's mother's approval, and Chick is frantically calling Eileen, trying to make things right.

Thanks to Bob, Eileen is soon released from jail, and the sisters learn that Appopolous has been so scandalized by Eileen's arrest, he has threatened to evict them. Eileen discovers that Ruth is also attracted to Bob Baker, and the two of them wish, for a moment, that they had never left home, reprising "Ohio". Eileen is then confronted by the rhythmical Speedy Valenti, owner of the Village Vortex, who gives her her New York debut as a singer. Appopolous immediately changes his tune now that one of his tenants has a paying job, and extends their lease.

Eileen soon learns that Bob Baker has quit his job as a result of a disagreement with his boss about Ruth's story on the Brazilian sailors. Eileen is thrilled that Bob quit his job and assures the unbelieving Bob that "It's Love" that he feels for Ruth. Bob, faced with the facts, realizes the truth: it is love.

The mood at the Vortex turns jazzy with the "Ballet At The Village Vortex". Eileen finds herself with a case of stage fright and she convinces Ruth to join her on stage to sing the "Wrong Note Rag". Chick arrives to make amends and presents Ruth with a press pass: his boss has read her story about the Brazilian Sailors and loved it, and given Ruth a job. The Vortex is alive with singing and dancing, and Bob decides it's the perfect moment to let Ruth know how he feels. The curtain closes as Eileen and the guests at the club sing "It's Love" in celebration of Ruth and Bob's newfound affection.

Ruth Sherwood (21-35) Smart and witty aspiring writer (alto)

Eileen Sherwood (18 -25) Beautiful aspiring actress (soprano)

Robert “Bob” Baker (27-35) - Editor at a short story magazine who’s in love with Ruth (baritone)

Wreck (20-30) - Unemployed ex-football player (baritone)

Frank Lippencott – Bumbling but lovable Walgreen's drugstore soda jerk who has a crush on Eileen

Chick Clark – A womanizing newspaperman who’s also smitten with Eileen

Appopolous - Eccentric painter with larger-than-life personality; Ruth and Eileen’s landlord

Officer John Lonigan – Police officer, featured solo in “My Darlin’ Eileen” - Irish tenor

Tour Guide – Featured solo in “Christopher Street”

Violet – Ruth and Eileen’s promiscuous neighbor

Speedy Valenti – Mysterious, ultra-hip owner of the Village Vortex night club

Helen Wade – Wreck’s live-in girlfriend

Mrs. Wade – Helen’s visiting mother

Ensemble - Denizens of Greenwich Village, Brazilian sailors, night club patrons, police officers, modern dance troupe, etc. – many featured dancing roles and small speaking parts; all voice types

Musicals at Richter.org