Dancing Mothers

About the show

The play was colored by the then recent passage of the Volstead Act, which made public sale and consumption of alcohol illegal. This synopsis was compiled from contemporaneous newspaper accounts and from excerpts published in The Best Plays of 1924. Act I (The Westcourt home in Westbury, New York. A late summer afternoon.) Kenneth Cobb upbraids Kittens Westcourt for her drinking, smoking, and chasing after Jerry Naughton. He threatens to inform her mother if she doesn't mend her ways. She dismisses him for a prude. Mrs. Massarene calls on Ethel Westcourt, to persuade her to come out to a rooftop garden nightclub that evening. When Ethel demurs to be with her family, she is given hints that her husband and daughter are both up to no good. Having heard from Kenneth, Ethel tries to confront Kittens but is dismissed with a lot of sass. She then pleads with her husband Hugh Westcourt to counsel Kittens, for he's the only one to whom she listens. Hugh speaks with Kittens, but is thwarted by a full charm offensive. Hugh then dismays Ethel by saying he will be staying overnight at his club in the city. (Curtain) Act II (Roof garden dancing venue. That evening.) Mrs. Massarene and her escort Clarence Houston are surprised to see Ethel show up to the rooftop garden after all. Jerry is pointed out to her, sitting with Irma Raymond, who is also well-known to her husband Hugh. When Jerry comes to their table, Ethel affects a French accent and claims to be from Paris. Jerry isn't really fooled, but plays along anyway, though he doesn't know she is Kittens' mother. Hugh comes to take Irma into the dancing area, but doesn't see Ethel, who begs off dancing with Jerry to avoid him. Meanwhile, Jerry is becoming entranced with Ethel in her liberated persona. However, Hugh does finally spot Ethel, and tries to order her home. She won't leave, and further informs him she will stay with Mrs. Massarene in the city while Hugh and Kittens go off to White Springs, Florida for a vacation. (Curtain) Act III (Gerald Naughton's bachelor apartment. Early evening, two weeks later.) Kittens shows up at Jerry's apartment in the city after returning from a two-week vacation. Jerry is out, but his man Davis unwisely permits her entry, and acquiesces to her demand for cocktails. She grows woozy with liquid solace waiting for Jerry's return, and Davis is forced to pick her up and deposit her on the bed in the guest room. When Jerry comes in, he is confronted with a visit from Irma. He informs her their affair is over, he has fallen for someone else. Ethel comes by after Irma leaves and is wooed by Jerry. But Kittens has recovered somewhat, and a confrontation between mother and daughter over their joint paramour ensues. Jerry is amused rather than alarmed by the revelation Ethel is the mother of Kittens. He sends the latter home, making plain his choice. (Curtain) Act IV (Same as Act I. An afternoon, a week later.) Hugh and Kittens are at home, discussing Ethel's continued absence. Kittens is again seeing Kenneth Cobb. Mrs. Massarene is brought in by Andrew. She has come with Ethel, who is waiting out in the car to see if Hugh will receive her. She has come, not for reconciliation, but to get personal items for her upcoming trip to Europe. She explains to Hugh and Kittens how their own conduct drove her to esteem happiness over family. She rejects their offers to reform, saying it would be only temporary, and just lead to her being sidelined again. Jerry has followed Ethel to the house; he defends himself well against Hugh's accusations, by counterattacking. Do not blame "scoundrels" for bringing happiness to wives betrayed by their husbands, he retorts. It is clear Jerry plans to follow Ethel to Paris. After they leave, Kittens and Hugh look at each other in astonishment: "She's gone!" they say. (Curtain)