The OVERTURE begins as a newly arrived English girl, very optimistic, talks about her stay in NY (TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE). Later, she opens her apartment door to her boyfriend, Joe. It’s obvious he’s been partying all night, and now the girl decides to break off their relationship (LET ME FINISH). She is pretty new to New York and tells herself IT’S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD if she loses him anyway. In the next scene she pens a letter to her mother about the differences between Manhattan and home, and she also describes her newest relationship with Sheldon Bloom (LETTER HOME TO ENGLAND).
Sheldon is a Hollywood producer who brings the girl to his LA mansion, called La Boheme. The girl describes all the things she’s willing to do for Sheldon (SHELDON BLOOM). She soon learns however, just how boring Hollywood can be (CAPPED TEETH AND CAESAR SALAD). Then it sinks in that Sheldon is only using her as an ornament (YOU MADE ME THINK YOU WERE IN LOVE). Los Angeles becomes a quick disappointment (CAPPED TEETH AND CAESAR SALAD (REPRISE)).
The English girl returns home but has met another man (IT’S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD). He is younger than her, but she doesn’t care, and describes him to her mother (SECOND LETTER HOME). She tells herself he’s so perfect that she sings her “UNEXPECTED SONG”. The younger man is off to work once again and the girl can’t bear to see him go (COME BACK WITH THE SAME LOOK IN YOUR EYES). Her best friend however comes over to tell her that he is not genuine. He hasn’t been at his job but rather has been fooling around (LET’S TALK ABOUT YOU),but the English girl at first denies the fact he’s cheating, but it soon sinks in (TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE-Reprise). She painfully says what she wants when she breaks up with a man (TELL ME ON A SUNDAY).
The girl, very depressed, talks about her wonderful New York in a different way (IT’S NOT HE END OF THE WORLD IF HE’S MARRIED) She soon meets a married man and decides dating him is an emotional thrill (MARRIED MAN). She writes a last letter to her mother that her green card came this morning and she can work in the salon (THIRD LETTER HOME). She sends her friend out of her apartment and re-examines her relationship with her new boyfriend (NOTHING LIKE YOU’VE EVER KNOWN). He soon returns late at night to confirm his true love for her. She finally understands she’s only been leading him on and has never really wanted him. She tries to tell him the truth, and decides to herself that it’s not the end of the world to have no one (FINALE). The curtain falls.
ACT II is the Younger Man’s story (Wayne Sleep) told in dance, about his adventures in NY and finding love at the same time. Here are the Variations in order they appear on the LP and VHS
THE VARIATIONS
Introduction And Theme
Variations 1-4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9
Variation 10
Variation 11 and 12
Variation 13 and 14
Variation 15
Variation 15 1/2
Variation 16
Variation 13 and 14 (varied)
Variation 17
Variation 18
Variation 19 and 20
Variation 5 (varied)
Variation 22 and 23
Now he finds The English Girl and sings about falling in love (WHEN YOU WANT TO FALL IN LOVE) and joins their “DANCE”. The Curtain Falls.