The Wren

About the show

The setting is an old New England farmhouse on the coast near Ogunquit, Maine. The farmhouse's ground floor interior walls have been removed to leave a large open area, with a double door entry in the center stage back wall. Through the open doors may be seen an exterior veranda, the bay, and another cape. Act I (Interior of Cap'n Olds Place. A spring afternoon.) Cap'n Olds wheels himself in from the veranda, but gets stuck until Mrs. Freehart gives him a push. They are surprised by the unexpected arrival of Mr. Frazee. He asks Seeby for a room separate from that of his wife. Seeby stops Francis and the Captain from beleaguering Frazee with gossip about his wife and Roddy. When they do come in from a morning supposedly devoted to painting, their relationship is betrayed by identical daisy chains of flowers around their necks. Clara Frazee is surprised to find her husband waiting. She portrays Roddy as Seeby's beau when Frazee is around, only to flirt with Roddy when he is not. Seeby, meanwhile, realizes Roddy hasn't done any serious painting since Clara arrived. (Curtain) Act II (Same, that evening.) Francis and Mrs. Freehart go out walking together in the evening. Clara has encouraged Roddy to take Seeby for a walk and play up to her, to mislead Mr. Frazee. Clara plays the piano for Roddy when he and Seeby return. Seeby intervenes by calling Francis to bring his guitar. Seeby sings The Nightingale while Francis plays and backs her vocals. Mr. Frazee appears and asks Seeby to have his bill ready tomorrow morning, when he will leave... with his wife. Clara objects and pursues him back to his room. Seeby then has words with Roddy, who is hopeless when Clara is present. Seeby accuses him of leading her on last season and tonight. Roddy protests his sincerity, but is nonplussed when Frazee tells him Clara makes a habit of these liaisons with bohemian types. Frazee then tells Clara that Roddy cannot afford to keep her; Francis has told him that Roddy stays at Cap'n Olds Place at half-rates. (Curtain) Act III (Same, the next morning.) The next morning Francis bears the brunt of Seeby's displeasure with his gossiping. Roddy confesses to Clara that he has been living off the sale of two paintings since last year, and cannot afford to take her anywhere. Clara realizes she better return with her husband, who understands her and can indulge her need for occasional flings. Seeby sends Roddy out to do some painting, rejecting his request to come along with him. Francis, the Captain, and Mrs. Freehart watch out a window as Roddy makes off alone with his paint gear and lunch box. They tell Seeby how lonely he looks now. After a moment she runs out the door, while the old folks watch amazed at her volte-face. (Curtain)