The two are joined by Mme. Celestine Arthur, a fashion designer, and her meek, sappy son Hercule. André tells them he is planning to 'visit the seaside resort of Neauvillewith Evangeline, whom he hopes to induce to appear in his Folies. Mme. Arthur says that she and her son are also going there, to display her summer creations. All at once, Hercule begins to exhibit one frock after another. Evangeline giddily agrees to take five dresses and a hat and offers her hand to André, who kisses it. The experiment apparently has begun. Scene 4 is a colonnade overlooking the beach at "Neauville-sur-Mer." Mme. Arthur and Hercule meet Count Hohenadelborn Mantalini and a morbid Russian, Alexei Stukin. Alexei conducts the hotel orchestra and has fallen in love with Evangeline from afar. They are joined by Clarissa Parks, a cocotte, whose profession is suffering from competition with society women whose morals have sunk to the depth of hers. Evangeline is startled to be reunited with her old friend Madeleine, who, it seems, was supported all through school by a gentleman with whom she has now had a final row. Evangeline tells Madeleine that while en route to Oxford, she met André who wants to star her in his revue and, while waiting for her decision, is treating her as if he were her father. When Evangeline refuses André's offer, she finds herself being wooed by both the Count, who offers to take her to his Venetian palazzo (which is currently being rented to wealthy Americans), and Alexei, who suggests that they either commit suicide together or go to Paris. When Evangeline spies André on a balcony with Madeleine, she at once agrees to pack her bag. Scene 5. At a cafe in Paris, we learn that Alexei and Evangeline are almost starving, because he cannot get work as a violinist. Determined to find a job for herself, Evangeline goes up to a woman reading a newspaper and discovers that she is another old chum, Joyce, who now lives with a painter named Pierre Fort. When Evangeline explains how hungry they are, Pierre says he will give them money just as soon as his wealthy customer shows up and buys some of his paintings. Just then, the customer appears: it is the Count. At once, Evangeline rises and says, "Venice." The Count reiterates, "Venice." They exit arm in arm, as the others look on in bewilderment. Scene 6. In the garden of the Palazzo Mantalini in Venice, Manfredo the major domo, Bessie the maid, the chief gondolier, Clara the fat cook, a kitchen maid, and Giuseppe the footman all are exhausted, because their American employers are obsessively social. The Count has let the house to Mrs. Samuel Lee Bamberg and her daughter Henrietta, yet another schoolmate. The wealthy, social-climbing Mrs. Bamberg is throwing an 1830 costume party and shows the Count her invitation list. It includes Constantine Koumoundouropolos, a Greek businessman whose huge yacht is out in the harbour. Mrs. Bamberg has obviously decided that her daughter will marry a rich European, but the Count is interested in the fact that the Bambergs themselves have money. When the guests arrive, Henrietta entertains them with a song about the famous writer "Georgia Sand," who shocked her lover by dressing like a man. The Count enters with Evangeline, who is startled to discover Henrietta. They go off to chat, leaving the Count and Constantine. The Count offers to give the Greek his beautiful companion to take away on his yacht, so that he himself can pursue Henrietta. Later, Evangeline is taken aback when Constantine offers to take her to the Orient on his yacht. When Henrietta announces her betrothal to the Count, Evangeline laughs hysterically, wildly sings "Nymph Errant," and shocks the Count by toddling off on Constantine's arm. Act II Scene 1, a section of the Acropolis by moonlight. A quartet of tourists bemoans the fact that wherever they travel abroad, they are shown nothing but "Ruins." Constantine has brought Evangeline to Athens to show her the historic city, and they chance to meet an old friend of his, Demetrios Pappas, who runs a home for unfortunate girls who have lost their "sense of proportion." His efficient German secretary turns out to be none other than Bertha; she had travelled to Greece with an archeologist who has since died. Bertha tells Evangeline that Pappas treats her just like a wife, but Evangeline bemoans the fact that all the men in her life
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU3MzQ=