WHOOP-UP A Musical Comedy in Two Acts. Book by Cy Feuer, Ernest H. Martin and Dan Cushman. Based on the novel Stay Away, Joe by Dan Cushmman. Music by Moose Charlap. Lyrics by Norman Gimbel. Opened 22 December 1958 at the Sam S. Shubert Theatre and closed 7 February 1959 after 56 performances. THE STORY ACT I Whoop-Up opens at Glenda's Place, a roadhouse built half-on/half-off a government-owned Indian reservation at Big Springs, Montana. Glenda Swenson, the proprietress, is busy policing the customers, making sure that the Indians don't carry alcoholic beverages into the half of the bar-room situated on the reservation (marked by a white line running down the middle of the room). Despite her hard no-booze-on-the-reservation policy, the customers, led by Walt Stephenpierre, celebrate their "home sweet home away from home". Glenda accepts a collect telegram from Joe Champlain, her on-again, off-again Indian boyfriend, informing her of his impending return: After two years on the rodeo circuit, he'll meet her at the Chief Rocky Boy ceremony that night. Glenda arranges for Joe's sister and parents to attend, then tells how only her big guy can melt her usually icy demeanor. Joe's parents, Louis and Annie, and his sister, Mary, are ushered in and told of Joe's homecoming. Annie is dismayed that Joe has wired Glenda's Place, blaming the barmaid for his occasional inebriation. Glenda departs for the beauty salon to prepare for Joe, and Mary asks permission to bring a white boy to the ceremony and dance. Annie doesn't like her children to associate with non-Indians and leaves after arguing with her more liberal husband. The other Indians tease Louis about his domineering squaw, but Louis tells how things will change once big Joe gets back. Over at Kellenbach Motors, salesman Clyde Walschmidt bemoans his failure to sell the new 1959 Buick Electra that Kellenbach wants off the lot: No one in Big Springs can afford it. The pumpboy, George Potter, interrupts to say he might have a customer for the oversized car. Despite the others' pessimism, George's enthusiasm persuades them to let him have the car overnight. He takes the keys and a blank sales contract and goes off. In the reservation assembly hall, a Medicine Man leads the Indians in a commemoration of the founding of their reservation by "Chief Rocky Boy." Joe, in full rodeo star regalia, is greeted by the Indians and his family, and teases his sister about her infatuation with her date, George Potter. When Joe mentions his broken-down Cadillac, George gives a well-rehearsed sales pitch for the Electra. Billie Mae Littlehorse, an "abundantly endowed" visitor from another reservation, is introduced to Joe and, when George accepts the Cadillac as down-payment, Joe enjoys a demonstration of both the Buick and Billie Mae. Outside, Glenda pulls up on her motorcycle, dolled-up for her reunion with Joe. Jiggs Rock Medicine cautiously tells her that Joe's already come and gone, but no one except Joe's Gran'Pere will tell her how and why. Glenda then declares her new philosophy about men. The next morning, Kellenbach gloats as George dictates the terms of his sale. But when he gets to Joe's address - the Rocky Boy Reservation - Kellenbach tears up the order. He won't sell to an Indian on credit and when he learns that the car is already in Joe's hands he fires George. At first George accuses Kellenbach of being unfair to the Indians, then changes tactics and convinces the boss of the untapped sales potential on the reservation. Kellenbach reconsiders and phones the bank for a credit history on Joe. The sole teller, Mary Champlain, gives a rosy financial picture of her brother and the Indians in general. Embracing George's concept, Kellenbach and Walschmidt decide to case the Indian community in order to exploit the new-found market and personally assess possible credit risks. After he agrees to arrange for the salesmen to meet Joe, George phones Mary with news of his anticipated promotion and makes a date for that evening. Mary is
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