WISH YOU WERE HERE A Musical Comedy in 2 Acts, 15 Scenes: Book by Arthur Kobet & Joshua Logan: Based on Having a Wonderful Time by Arthur Kober. Music & Lyrics by Harold Rome. Imperial Theatre, Broadway - June 25, 1952 (598 Perfs) London Casino, 10 October, 1953 (282 perfs) SYNOPSIS: Act I The show opens with a P.A. announcement welcoming a busload of new guests to Camp Karefree, a twoweek summer camp for adults in the Catskills. Camp host Lou Kandel gives the newcomers, mostly women, the rundown of the place; first, he introduces the waiters, mostly college men. Then he tells everyone the two rules - Camp Karefree cares for you, and when the lights flicker the girls go to the girls’ side and the boys go to the boys’ (“Camp Karefree Song”). Enter Teddy Stern, a young woman soon to be wed to a stuffy, older man: Herman Fabricant. Teddy has been crying uncontrollably since her engagement, so her doctor suggested she get some rest before the wedding. Teddy’s friend Fay, a screwball blonde, meets her and takes her under her wing. Herman leaves. After he’s gone, Teddy confesses she is having second thoughts about her marriage, that’s why the doctor said she needed a change. With that, Fay takes Teddy’s wedding ring - just for the time that they’re at camp - so Teddy can have a real change. Fay introduces the now “single” Teddy to her friends (“There’s Nothing Nicer Than People”). Teddy then meets Itchy Flexner, the social director who does it all: imitations, singing, dancing, and telling stories. He just loves to entertain (“Social Director”). He engages the entire camp with his talent. An announcement over the loudspeaker tells everyone to change for dinner. As she heads to her cabin, Teddy meets Pinky Harris - a dashing, womanizing fellow who takes an interest in her. After Teddy has changed for dinner, she notices Fay flirting with Harry “Muscles” Green - the new athletic director. It seems that Fay has her eye on every available man at Camp Karefree. She confesses that she just loves to flirt (“Shopping Around”). The scene shifts to the locker room for the waiters listlessly wipe the water glasses and reflect on what they must do to put themselves through school (“Bright College Days”). Kandel enters and reminds the waiters that part of their job is to entertain the ladies - all of them, not just the pretty ones - by dancing and talking with them. Chick, a law student, is tired of being a waiter by day and gigolo by night - he wants to meet a real girl, not these eager beavers, as he calls them, at Camp Karefree. But the boys remind him it’s either socialize or get fired (“Mix and Mingle”). On the Social Hall Porch, the girls want to dance, but the men are playing poker. When the waiters arrive, the girls rush inside excitedly to dance with them. Teddy, however, doesn’t feel like dancing. She listens to the other girls speculate that tonight could be the night they fall in love, looks at her ring finger, and starts crying (“Could Be”). Chick casually enters and stands unaware of Teddy. Schmutz, one of Itchy’s assistants, enters and tells Chick that he better start dancing because word has gotten back to Kandel that Chick wouldn’t dance with one of the girls. Chick quickly convinces the reluctant Teddy to dance with him just as Kandel enters. Inside the social hall, Itchy directs everyone in a get-acquainted dance (“Tripping the Light Fantastic”). At the end, ready to escort her home, Chick is still with Teddy and thanks her for getting him out of a tight spot. It’s here that Pinky makes it very evident that he has designs on Teddy. In fact, he wants Itchy to help him survey the situation and see just how he can lure Teddy to him. Itchy agrees - on the condition Pinky get him a TV audition. Next, Muscles comes over and asks Itchy for advice on wooing a girl. Itchy is happy to oblige, until he finds out the girl is Fay who Itchy also wants! To Itchy’s dismay, Muscles and Fay leave together. (“Social Director - Reprise”). Walking through the woods, Chick and Teddy hear the band playing
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