The Mermaids Singing

About the show

This synopsis is based on the 1946 published play. The setting throughout is said to be "any large American city, other than New York", with Boston or Philadelphia the likeliest candidates for a two-week tryout run, and what the author has in mind. Act I Scene 1 (Living room of a suite in an excellent hotel. Monday at 11:30pm.) Clem sits in his suite after the first tryout of his new play. George brings a case of whiskey instead of a bottle; he knows theatre people have many unexpected visitors. Bertha enters and calmly accepts that her second-act lines will have to be cut. Bertha and Clem discuss adultery, the subject of his new play. He is surprised to learn he was her only liaison, and she otherwise disapproves of it. Jessica calls Clem on the phone; she is in New York with their daughters. He asks if she considers him an immoral playwright and is stunned at her affirmative reply. Clem tells Bertha about meeting a Navy ensign and his girl in the tryout audience. Clem invites them up to his room when Thad calls from the lobby. Thad and Dee are introduced to Bertha. Dee talks about her father's admiration for Bertha's acting. The four get along so well that when Laura Musgrave calls Clem, he finagles an invitation for them to go to Laura's party. (Curtain) Act I Scene 2 (The same, 3:30am.) Dee and Clem bring the early newspaper editions back to his hotel room, after dropping Thad off at the train station. They read the reviews by the local drama critics: two are positive, and one decries the lack of "action". They discuss their lives and develop a rapport. Dee urges Clem to come tour a local art museum with her that afternoon, and they agree to meet for lunch at the hotel bar. As she leaves to take a taxi home, Clem impulsively kisses her. (Curtain) Act II Scene 1 (The hotel bar, Tuesday at noon.) Bertha and the Elderly Gentleman discuss her part being reduced. He is outraged about the change, his protests heard by Clem and Dee who have just come in for lunch. Bertha takes her admirer away, but Dee and Clem are soon interrupted by Betty James. She thrusts herself upon them, inveigling free tickets from Clem, while dropping Thad's name into the conversation to let Clem know Dee has a fiancé. Betty leaves, making a veiled threat to Dee about telling Mrs. Matthews where her daughter is and with whom. Mrs. Matthews comes to the bar to ask Dee to call her Red Cross supervisor, having been alerted by Betty James. While Clem takes a phone call, Dee and Mrs. Matthews discuss the impropriety of the situation and the likelihood of Betty spreading rumors. To forestall her, Mrs. Matthews invites Clem to dinner on Friday. (Curtain) Act II Scene 2 (Mrs. Matthews' house, Friday at 10:30pm.) Having finished dinner, Clem, Mrs. Matthews and Dee relax in the living room. Also present are Betty and Professor James, and the bibulous Luther. The Professor and Luther badger Clem about his new play and his opinions on other playwrights, while Betty makes suggestions the adultery in Clem's play reflects his own predilections, with side glances at Dee. The latter is convinced her mother arranged this fracas to put Clem off, rather than to stop Betty's rumor-mongering. Clem, however, handles the aggravation adroitly, and offers to guide the staggering Luther back to their hotel. Afterwards, Mrs. Matthews admits to Dee that he behaved much better than the other guests. When she goes to bed, Dee calls a taxi to take her to the hotel. (Curtain) Act II Scene 3 (The hotel bar, around midnight.) Throughout this scene, two nearby tables are occupied: a Girl and a Man at one, and a Drunk at another, while a Waiter serves the customers. None of these characters has more than a few lines, and they have no effect other than as background ambience. At the center table, Bertha and Clem talk about Dee. Bertha probes Clem's intentions towards her. He denies being a cradle-snatcher, but she is unconvinced, and warns him not to trifle with her. They are startled to see Dee come into the bar. Dee confirms Clem's recounting of the dinner. Bertha gets a telephone call from her Colonel and has to leave. Dee tells Clem she is falling in love with him. He tries to bluff her out of it but fails. She candidly confesses she is not a virgin, so he shouldn't worry about that. Luther barges into the bar, having left his hotel room where Clem deposited him. He tries to hit on Dee but is chased off. Clem then fends off Dee's advances and sends her home. (Curtain) Act III Scene 1 (Park across from hotel, early Saturday morning.) Clem encounters Dee sitting on a bench. She has been waiting, thinking he might come out to the park. He tells her about his wife and daughters. Tentatively, Dee asks if she might visit him in New York. Clem gives her a qualified yes; he isn't quite sure they understand each other. After Dee leaves, Bertha sits next to him and tells her sad story. She spent the night with the Colonel in her hotel room, only to find out in the morning he has a wife and family in Wyoming, and was now on his way there having received his discharge. (Curtain) Act III Scene 2 (Same as Act I, that afternoon.) Clem is visited by Mrs. Matthews. Dee has told her she is thinking of going to New York. Mrs. Matthews expresses her concern to Clem that he will ruin Dee's life; she knows there can be no real future there for Dee. Clem is disingenuous at first, but admits he hasn't discouraged Dee from the notion that she might fit into his world. After she leaves, Thad comes up to the hotel room. Betty has attached herself to him, bringing books for Clem to autograph. She is pushed out, and Thad delivers his plea to Clem: don't encourage Dee to stray from home. Jessica calls Clem; their daughter Joan wants to see his new play for her 15th birthday so they will come on Monday. As Clem hangs up, Dee shyly enters his room. She has brought a sketch of Clem she drew herself. Clem now discourages her from any thought of an affair or New York. She bursts into tears, but realizes he won't fall in love with her. Dee tears the sketch in half. Bertha phones to invite Clem to lunch, as Dee slips out of the room, exchanging painful glances with Clem. As he speaks with Bertha, Clem tears the sketch into tiny pieces. (Curtain)