LEAVE IT TO JANE Book and Lyrics by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse : Music by Jerome Kern Based on the play College Widow by George Ade Longacre Theatre, Broadway - March 29, 1917 (167 perfs) Revival - 25 May, 1958 SYNOPSIS Leave It To Jane is a lovely, wonderfully sweet show. It can be performed by a small cast with a minimum of costumes and scenery or can be for a full company. It perfectly catches the relaxed softness of the small town college of the early 1900s. In this satire on college life in a Mid-Western town, Jane, the daughter of the president of Atwater College uses the wiles of a siren to keep the college star half-back Billy Bolton from going off to a rival college. Her seductive ways are sufficiently alluring, not only to keep Billy at Atwater but also to win him for herself. Story When the show opens we discover that Atwater College sadly lacks football material for its forthcoming season against the rival school, Bingham. Even the enthusiasm of Sophomore Ollie Mitchell fails to motivate the new recruits for the team. The coach, Matty McGowan is discouraged, until Stub Talmadge bursts in to announce that he has returned from vacation with a great "find": a burly, ex-piano mover named "Silent" Murphy. Stub and his girl, Bessie, the local golf champ, speculate about married life. Then Flora Wiggins , the campus character who helps run her mother's boarding house, reminds Stub that he owes her $18 in back rent. But he manages to elude her demands. Jane Witherspoon, the enchanting daughter of Atwater's President Witherspoon, enters, followed by a group of boys who adore her. She is dutifully grateful for their attention but suggests that they should wait till tomorrow. Hiram Bolton, a benefactor to the rival Bingham, arrives to visit his old friend, President Witherspoon. In a moment of bravado, Stub bets him that Atwater will slaughter Bingham in the big game. As Witherspoon and Bolton leave, Bessie rushes in to tell Stub that she has just seen the famous all-American, Bolton of Minnesota, who is on his way to Bingham to join the team. Putting two and two together, they realise that he must be old Bolton's son; and if he should ever get to Bingham, all hope is lost for the Atwater team. Stub is ready to quit, but Bessie rebukes him for his attitude. Bessie enlists the aid of Jane to help keep young Billy Bolton at Atwater. When Billy meets Jane, he is instantly captivated by her tantalising manner. After he leaves, Jane reveals that she will convince Billy not only to stay on at Atwater, but also to change his name so her father will not become suspicious. In order to accomplish this, she will flirt with Billy, a bold step to take, but necessary in this emergency. Bessie and Stub are overjoyed. Professor Talbot, who also has a crush on Jane, enters with Hon. Elan Hicks, a southern state senator whose gawky son, Bub, is joining Atwater. Bub is shy and terrified at being away from home; but he soon becomes attracted to Flora, who is delighted at his attention. Meanwhile, Jane has convinced Billy to remain on the campus for the formal dance that evening, by tricking him into giving her his fraternity pin. Alone, she reflects that today's women are not so different from the legendary sirens who attract men and dash them to destruction against the rocks. That evening, the boys in tails and the girls in formal gowns sit about and sing a medley of oldtime favourites. The dancing starts and another girl momentarily keeps Billy company until Jane arrives. Flora, acting as waitress, fancies herself a vamp. Jane continues to entice Billy and he finally agrees to change his name to Staples and stay on at Atwater and try to make the team. His general announcement is received with cheer, as
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU3MzQ=