Paige O'Hara
Sitting Pretty
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse
Book by Guy Bolton
Synopsis
(Including Musical Numbers)
On the grounds of Mr. Pennington's summer home in Far Hills, New Jersey, the friends of Bill Pennington (the old man's nephew) convene for a coaching party and picnic (IS THIS NOT A LOVELY SPOT?). Bill's girlfriend, Babe (A chorus girl of note), questions young Bill about his prospects, but he deflects the question (YOU ALONE WOULD DO).
As the stage clears, Dixie and May Tolliver (Paige O'Hara), identical twin sisters from the orphanage next door, sneak over the garden wall to pick flowers. They are discovered by Bill, to whom they recount their family history. They explain sadly that they doubt they will ever be adopted, and all three reflect on the hard knocks life can dish out (WORRIES).
Old Mr. Pennington summons his relatives to the estate to announce he has disinherited them all. He intends to create a new family by adopting a young boy and a young girl and breeding "fewer but better Penningtons." Pennington introduces his adopted son, an uncouth young man named Horace. Shocked and dismayed, all the relatives (except Bill) depart in a huff.
Left alone, Horace is confronted by his Uncle Jo, a jewel thief. It is revealed that Horace's adoption is part of Uncle Jo's plan to rob the Pennington estate during a big house party. They are interrupted by Bill's best friend, Judson. To distract Judson from the real purpose of Uncle Jo's visit, Horace and Uncle Jo discuss big-game hunting in Africa, and Judson joins in enthusiastically (BONGO ON THE CONGO).
Dixie meets Horace in the garden, and they are instantly drawn to one another. Horace reveals that Mr. Pennington plans to adopt one of the orphans from the asylum to be his bride, and he hopes it may be Dixie, especially after she recounts to him some of their favorite recipes. Their hopes are domestic bliss run high (MR. AND MRS. RORER).
After the song, Dixie encounters and in inadvertently insults old Mr. Pennington. He vows immediately that she will never be the one he adopts. Meanwhile, Babe, discovering Bill has been disinherited, abruptly calls off their engagement. Sadly, Bill observes that "gold diggers used to be forty-niners; now they're perfect thirty sixes" (THERE ISN'T ONE GIRL).
May climbs over the garden wall and hears Bill's song. She gives him a pep talk, and he realizes at once that this is the girl for him. He decides to go out into the world and seek his fortune, and when he returns he will seek May out and lay his fortune at her feet (A YEAR FROM TODAY).
Uncle Jo has not been idle. In order to infiltrate the Pennington house even further, he manages to have himself hired as Horace's private tutor, much to Horace's dismay (he is convinced Uncle Jo will give the game away). The orphanage matron and Mr. Pennington meet in the library to discuss the adoption of the lucky orphan. All in all, it has been an eventful morning, and Dixie, ever the optimist, recalls the cheery philosophy of an old man "back home in Claybille" (SHUFFLIN' SAM).
Mr. Pennington makes his selection. Horace wants him to adopt Dixie, whom he loves, but Pennington selects May, who loves Bill. As hearts are broken on all sides, Dixie and May are separated. (ACT ONE FINALE).
Six months later, at Mr. Pennington's winter estate in Florida. A lavish costume ball is in progress, celebrating May's "coming out". The guests, dressed in the period of the 1850's, dance polkas, lancers, and waltzes (OPENING ACT TWO). A party guest, dressed as Empress Eugenie of France, steps forward to sing a reverie (DAYS GONE BY).
Bill appears at the party to offer his services to his uncle. In the six months since Act One he has become a famous private detective, and offers a to protect the house and the guests. Pennington declines his offer. Bill sees May, who is overjoyed to see him. He tells her she was the inspiration for his success (ALL YOU NEED IS A GIRL). May is still very unhappy, however. She misses Dixie terribly, and longs to see her.
Horace and Uncle Jo plot their caper. Jo plans to strike after the party, when the ladies are asleep. Horace, newly educated, begins to have doubts about the enterprise, having learned from going to the movies that criminals always end up in jail. Uncle Jo wistfully remembers his dear old prison days (TULIP TIME IN SING SING).
Dixie suddenly appears at the party. She has prevailed on her new employer, the famous New York dressmaker Jeanette, to send her a to Florida to fit May's party dresses herself - so here she is! May is elated to see her sister. The twins dream of the day when they can be together again (ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH YOU).
Horace is as glad to see Dixie as May is. He passionately declares his love for her (and her cooking). They resolve to marry in spite of everything. Bill seeks out May and proposes. They sing of their future in a little bungalow somewhere, and of the enchanted conveyance that will take them there - the Long Island Rail Road (THE ENCHANTED TRAIN).
Horace, out of love for Dixie, resolves to go straight. He tells her he can never be hers, and that he is not worthy of her. They dance one dance, and he departs. Sadly, Dixie gazes at the sky, left with only the Man in the Moon for a dancing partner (SHADOW OF THE MOON).
Uncle Jo almost makes off with the jewels, but a newly reformed Horace manages to foil his escape. Overjoyed, Dixie accepts Horace's proposal (SITTING PRETTY). He gives Dixie the credit for recovering the missing jewels, leading Mr. Pennington to give his blessing to their marriage - and May and Bill's in the bargain. All ends happily (even for Uncle Jo!) (FINALE ULTIMO).