PLAIN AND FANCY Music by Albert Hague: Lyrics by Arnold B. Horwitt: Book by Joseph Stein & Will Glickman Mark Hellinger Theatre, Broadway - Jan. 27, 1955 (461 perfs) Theatre Royal Drury Lane - 25 January, 1956 STORY Dan King and his girl, Ruth Winters, are lost in the heart of Amish Pennsylvania in search of Bird-in-Hand. Dan has inherited property there and has agreed to sell the land to Papa Yoder for a wedding gift to his daughter, Katie, and her intended, Ezra. When they finally arrive, preparations for the wedding are in full swing. Sophisticated Ruth marvels at their naiveté but longs for New York. Hilda Miller, a spunky Amish maiden, falls for Dan and misinterprets his kind words as words of love. The Amish men are teasing Ezra about marrying Katie. His only retort is, "Why not?" But Ezra's brother Peter, banished from the community for fighting, has returned. He and Katie were childhood sweethearts, and the feelings are very much alive. Dan tries to intercede for the lovers, but stubborn Papa Yoder reminds him that he is a guest in a different way of life. Taunted by Ezra, Peter raises his hand against his own brother. Just as he does, the barn on Dan's property is struck by lightning and burns to the ground. Papa declares that Peter's evil actions are responsible and Peter is "shunned," even by a frightened and confused Katie. In true Amish tradition, the barn is rebuilt. Peter manages to get Katie alone, but to no avail. Ruth is having the same kind of luck in the Amish kitchens and retreats to her trusty bottle of Scotch. When Ezra asks what she's drinking, she covers up by answering "vegetable juice." Ezra requests a sample and in short order is completely drunk. He decides he's to have a bachelor fling at the Lancaster carnival and departs. Hilda finds out that Dan doesn't love her and also wants to see the outside world. At the carnival, Ezra gets into a brawl and is almost killed by a knife-wielding roustabout. But Peter has followed him. He steps in to break it up and returns his still sozzled brother to the wedding gathering. Ezra, too, is now disgraced, but Dan is successful in obtaining Papa's consent to a marriage between Katie and Peter with Dan's farm thrown in free as a wedding present. The experience has brought Dan and Ruth closer together as they return to New York. MUSICAL NUMBERS: • You Can't Miss It - Ruth Winters, Dan King and ensemble • It Wonders Me -Katie Yoder • Plenty of Pennsylvania - Emma Miller, Ezra Reber, children • Young and Foolish - Peter Reber • Why Not Katie? - Ezra Reber and Men • By Lantern Light - Dancers • It's a Helluva Way to Run a Love Affair - Ruth Winters • This Is All Very New to Me - Hilda Miller • Plain We Live - Papa Yoder and Company • Plain We Live (Reprise( - The Company • The Shunning - Company • How Do You Raise a Barn? - The Entire Company • Follow Your Heart - Peter Reber, Katie Yoder, Hilda Miller
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