THE DRUNKARD A Musical in 3 Acts: Music and lyrics by Barry Manilow, adapted by Bro Herrod, based on the world-famous melodrama by W.H. Smith 13th Street Theatre, Off Broadway - 13 April 1970 (48 perfs) SYNOPSIS W.H. Smith's The Drunkard lurched onto the stage in 1844 and has been holding forth with beery charm ever since. With a deliciously droll score by Barry Manilow, audiences are wafted back to a simpler period where "God is good and right is good, but evil's not so good, right?" Will our brave heroine, Mary, rescue her drinkbesotted husband from the evils of bottled sin? Will Edward, our hero, ever drag himself out of that rubbish bin? And will Mad Agnes ever stop singing about A 19th century melodrama … by Barry Manilow The show takes us back to a simpler, infinitely less subtle day in this deliciously coy and exaggerated play about the good, the bad, and the besotted. When Sweet Mary Wilson weds the virtuous Edward, the villainous lawyer Cribbs, determined to foreclose on the quaint little cottage Mary shares with her poor widowed mother, sees to it that the devil's beverage – alcohol – is served. Alas and alack! Edward is lured to the city and ensnared in a web of sin and drunkenness! Can Mary and her innocent young child save her inebriated husband from the evils of the bottle? And what of the diabolical Cribbs? STORY ACT I The show opens on the interior of a humble cottage where Mrs. Wilson and her daughter, Mary, are discovered side by side in rocking chairs, sewing on embroidery hoops. Their lives are not going very well. The mortgage is overdue and the ceiling is falling through. Nevertheless, they are hoping for something good. They are worried that their cottage will be sold since the landlord, Mr. Middleton, is at death's door. If he dies, they wonder what will happen to them and where they will go. Suddenly, there is a knock at the door and the villain, the foul-tempered lawyer, Mr. Cribbs, enters to inform the two ladies that his client, Mr. Middleton, has indeed passed away. He lewdly gazes at poor Mary as he tells them that Mr. Cribbs had many bad investments and many debts that must be paid. Wilson cottage must be sold and the ladies will have to find somewhere else to live. After coldly disclosing this news, the villain leaves. Mr. Middleton has a surviving son, Edward, and although this young man is known to be a bit reckless and given to excess, perhaps the women can convince him not to sell the cottage. They gather up all the rent money they have saved and Mary prepares to take it over to meet Edward and ask him for help. While Mary makes her way over to Edward's house, Mr. Cribbs prances around enjoying all the evil in the world. In a wooded glade, Edward, our hero, enters confidently and handsomely dressed. He is stopped by Mr. Cribbs who tries to discuss with him the selling of the Wilson cottage and its adjoining land. Edward has no intention of selling the cottage or land. He knows that his father had the highest esteem for the Wilsons, and Edward would never deprive them of a home. Hearing this, an angered Mr. Cribbs exits. Mr. Cribbs swiftly returns, however, and suggests to Edward that since young Mary is without a father, it would be very easy for him to simply take her for his own. Hearing these lewd thoughts infuriates Edward, and he chases after Mr. Cribbs. Edward is about to strike Mr. Cribbs, when Mary, who has been peeking form behind the tree, rushes forward and grasps Edward's arm. She begs forgiveness for Mr. Cribbs and the villain
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