DAMES AT SEA
SYNOPSIS
After a brief musical introduction the curtain rises on the dress rehearsal of a new Broadway show called
Dames at Sea. Hardboiled star Mona Kent is going through her opening number. Enter Ruby, fresh off
the bus from Utah and looking for a part in a Broadway show. She has left her suitcase on the bus and
hasn't eaten for three days. Hennesey, the show's harassed manager - he has just produced 12 flops in
a row - is turning her down when big-hearted show girl Joan informs him that one of the chorus eloped
with a millionaire that morning. He gives Ruby the job.
Overcome with the excitement and lack of food, Ruby faints - right into the arms of Dick, a handsome
sailor who has found her suitcase, containing her tap shoes, and followed her. Ruby and Dick fall
instantly in love. Dick, an aspiring songwriter, composes a love song for Ruby right then and there.
Kindly Joan takes Ruby off for a meal. The glamorous Mona, known as 'the Lady Macbeth of 42nd
Street' and wanting to get her hands on Dick for both his music and his looks, starts flirting with him.
Ambitious Dick, all too eagerly gives her one of his songs to sing. Dick's fellow sailor, Lucky, arrives. He
turns out to be a former boyfriend of Joan and greets her in astonishment. Finding their earlier love
rekindling, they imagine their honeymoon. To express her love for Dick, Ruby writes a letter to
President Roosevelt, explaining just how much she loves the American navy in general and Dick in
particular. Hennesey confounds the company when he rushes in with the news that the theatre has
been sold and is scheduled for demolition. With opening night only hours away, the sturdy troopers
sing as they pack up their belongings and the bulldozers move in.
Dick and Lucky hit on a brilliant idea to save the show: they will persuade their commander, Captain
Courageous, to allow the show to open on the deck of their battleship, which is anchored in the nearby
docks. Dames at Sea will be staged at sea! Favoring a subtle approach, the two sailor boys start by
lamenting the lack of girls on board ship. But their efforts are to no avail. It is Mona who vamps Captain
Courageous into capitulating and allowing them to put on the show. Planning her entrance, Mona is
astounded to see that the Captain is none other than 'Kewpie Doll', a former beau. She reminds him of
their first meeting in Pensacola, Florida, when she, the as-yet-undiscovered singing waitress, Grace
Topolovsky from Flatbush, served him chili-con-carne. Passion flares anew as they recall that fateful
night when she gave her all under the tropic stars. Dick arrives as the Captain leaves. Ever on the
lookout for more songs, Mona persuades Dick to kiss her. Just at that moment, Ruby enters and sees
everything. Plunged into the blackest despair, she pours out her feelings.
During last-minute rehearsals, the excitement at fever pitch, Mona becomes seasick and has to retire to
the Captain's cabin. Hennesey is devastated. Who could possibly replace the star at such short notice?
All turn to Ruby: "It's a chance in a million, but it might just work." The plucky girl goes on and wows
the audience. After the show, Dick showers her with congratulations and they kiss and make up. There
is nothing else to do but to plan the wedding. Joan and Lucky, and Mona and Captain Courageous refuse
to be left out. The show ends with the three pairs deciding that simplicity should be the keynote amid
cheers and a 21-gun salute.
www.summertide.org
The Professional Summer Theatre of The University of Alabama
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The University of Alabama
205/348-5283 main phone
Department of Theatre and Dance
205/348-9048 fax
Box 870239
205/348-3400 UATD box office
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0239
251/968-6721 Gulf Shores box office