On The Town Synopsis

ON THE TOWN

Act I

On a New York City dock in June of 1944, four longshoremen mourn the start of a new workday (“I Feel Like I’m Not Out of Bed Yet”). The 6 AM whistle blows, and three sailors – Ozzie, Chip and Gabey – excitedly emerge, ready for 24 hours of shore leave. Chip, relying on his father’s outdated guidebook, plans to see as much of the city as possible. Ozzie is only interested in women, and romantic Gabey hopes to meet that one special girl (“New York, New York”).

On the subway, the sailors spot a poster of Ivy Smith, this month’s “Miss Turnstiles.” Gabey, infatuated, grabs it and takes it with him. An old lady angrily tells him that she will have him arrested for vandalism, and the three sailors split up: Gabey heads for Carnegie Hall, where Ivy takes singing lessons; Ozzie heads toward the Museum of Modern Art, where she studies painting; and Chip tries to find her through the subway’s marketing department. The old lady finds a policeman, and the two chase after the sailors.

Chip winds up in a cab driven by strong-willed Hildy, who urges him to skip the tourist traps and join her in her apartment (“Come Up to My Place”). At the museum, Ozzie meets a budding anthropologist, Claire de Loone, who is amazed at his resemblance to a prehistoric man. Ozzie mistakes her scientific inquiry for romantic interest (“Carried Away”). They accidentally knock over a dinosaur, and Waldo Figment, the professor who built the dinosaur, chases them, joining up with Hildy’s boss, the cop, and the old lady.

Meanwhile, Gabey mopes around the city. Without love, New York is nothing but a “Lonely Town.”

At Carnegie Hall, Ivy Smith studies voice with Madame Dilly, a drunk who clearly has no knowledge of vocal training. Not quite as glamorous as her Miss Turnstiles profile, Ivy is actually a struggling artist who works as a “cooch dancer” in Coney Island. Gabey arrives and asks Ivy to have dinner with him at Nedick’s. To his surprise, she accepts. When Gabey leaves, Madame Dilly advises Ivy to break the date, saying, “Sex and art don’t mix” (“Carnegie Hall Pavane”).

Ozzie accompanies Claire back to her apartment, where he meets Claire’s fiancé, Pitkin W. Bridgework. They try desperately to explain what they are doing together, but Pitkin doesn’t seem to mind (“I Understand”). Pitkin leaves to attend a meeting, reminding Claire that they are to meet at Diamond Eddie’s to celebrate their engagement. Left alone, Ozzie and Claire take advantage of their time (“Carried Away” Reprise).

In Hildy’s apartment, Hildy and Chip are interrupted by Hildy’s roommate Lucy, who stayed home from work with a cold. After convincing Lucy to go to an air-conditioned movie, Hildy seduces Chip, bragging about her many talents (“I Can Cook Too”).

Gabey, enthralled by his meeting with Ivy, feels “Lucky to Be Me.” On her way to meet Gabey, Ivy runs into Madame Dilly, who insists that Ivy go to work. When Madame Dilly threatens to smear Ivy’s reputation, Ivy is forced to stand Gabey up.

Chip and Ozzie arrive at Nedick’s with Hildy and Claire both dressed as Ivy Smith. Gabey isn’t fooled, and tells them the story of how he met the real Ivy. Just then, Madame Dilly arrives with a message: Ivy will not be coming because she instead elected to go to a fancy party. Gabey is alone and dejected, but Hildy suggests a replacement date: Lucy. The five friends celebrate New York’s pulsating nightlife (“Finale Act I: Times Square Ballet”).

Act II

At Diamond Eddie’s, the dancers perform a number (“So Long Baby”). Gabey is still hung up on Miss Turnstiles, and Lucy hasn’t arrived yet. The nightclub’s singer, Diana Dream, only worsens Gabey’s mood by performing a very sad song (“I Wish I Was Dead”). Lucy calls, having accidentally gone to the Diamond Eddie’s in Yonkers. The group decides to go to the Congacabana at the suggestion of Claire, but on their way out, they run into Pitkin. Ozzie and Claire try to explain the situation, but as before, Pitkin is unconcerned (“I Understand” Reprise). The gang leaves for the Congacabana while Pitkin stays behind to pay the check.

At the Congacabana, Dolores Dolores sings the same sad song in Spanish. Hildy interrupts her, saying she’d been asked to sing (“Ya Got Me”). Pitkin arrives (“I Understand” Reprise), but the gang heads out. Claire tells Pitkin to pay the check and wait for Lucy before meeting them at the next club, The Slam Bang.

At the Slam Bang Club, a drunken Madame Dilly reveals that Ivy is in Coney Island. Gabey runs off to find her. Chip and Ozzie, afraid that he won’t be able to get back to the ship on time, rush after him. On their way out, they come across Lucy and Pitkin. Claire once again leaves him to go with Ozzie. Pitkin recalls all the times in his life that he “understood” and realizes he’s been played the fool by everyone, including Claire (“Pitkin’s Song: I Understand”). Pitkin bonds with Lucy and the two of them join the chase along with the little old lady, the police officers, Figment, and Hildy’s boss.

Riding the subway, Gabey dreams about Coney Island and Ivy (“Subway Ride/The Great Lover Displays Himself/The Imaginary Coney Island”). The other four, who just missed Gabey, ride in a different subway car. They wonder what will happen after the men return to their ship (“Some Other Time”).

In Coney Island, Ivy, along with several other girls, dances in a show called Rajah Bimmy’s Harem Scarem (“The Real Coney Island”). Gabey sees Ivy and accidentally tears her outfit. Ivy is arrested for indecent exposure just as the chasers arrive and demand the others be arrested. Claire begs Pitkin to help out, but he instead refers the three sailors to the naval authorities. The girls ask Pitkin whether he’s ever “committed an indiscretion,” which he staunchly refutes. But he loses credibility when he suddenly sneezes exactly as Lucy had.

As the clock chimes six, the three sailors dejectedly prepare to board the ship. Suddenly, the girls come running to them, explaining that Pitkin understood. They three couples bid each other a fond farewell. Just as the men board the ship, three new sailors emerge, eager to have their own adventures in New York City (“New York, New York” Reprise/”Finale Act II”).