Synopsis
ACT 1
The apartment of Penelope and her 12-year old son Paul. It is the birthday of Penelope’s husband, Harold Ryan, who is presumed dead having been missing for 8 years while hunting in the Amazon. Full of angst, Paul idolizes the memory of his father and is angry at his mother for entertaining two neighbors, Herb Shuttle, a vacuum salesman, and Dr. Norbert Woodley, a physician and healer, on his father’s birthday.
Shuttle chases after Paul when he storms out and having lost the boy, he purchases the first birthday cake he can find to honor the boy’s father and make the boy feel better. In the meantime, Dr. Woodley asked Penelope to marry him and she says, yes. When Shuttle returns with the cake, Penelope and Shuttle leave to look for the boy.
While Woodley waits in the apartment, he falls asleep. Harold Ryan and his friend Colonel Looseleaf Harper enter finding the man asleep in the apartment. After making himself known and chasing him out, Harold comes across the birthday cake, which reads, Happy Birthday Wanda June.
In Heaven. 8-year old Wanda June tells the audience she was killed tragically on her birthday having been hit by an ice cream truck. In heaven she can play all day and is surrounded by many friends, including animals, dead soldiers, those who went to the electric chair, etc. Wanda June is happy to be dead.
In the apartment. Looseleaf and Harold exchange stories about dropping the atomic bomb and wives when Paul comes home. Harold introduces himself as a friend of his father’s and learns that Penelope has two suitors and has earned a college degree. Harold shares war stories, including one about killing the butcher of Yugoslavia, Siegfried Von Konigswald.
In Heaven. Von Konigswald is in heaven and tells a different version of Harold’s war story. He also describes his surroundings in Heaven and the people he encounters.
In the apartment. Harold tells Paul that his mother has agreed to marry Woodley just as Penelope and Shuttle enter the apartment to find Paul safely returned. Both Paul and Shuttle are upset and Shuttle leaves as Penelope collapses in her chair in shock at the return of Harold Ryan. Just as she tells Paul who the mysterious man is, Woodley returns. Penelope kisses both men on the cheek and introduces them to each other as her husband (Harold) and her fiancé (Woodley) before going to bed.
ACT 2
In the apartment. It is the next day. Paul wakes his mother with the news that his father is quite ill, so she sends for Woodley’s help. Having lived in the Amazon for years, Harold has these occasional spells, but carries with him a cure. Harold berates Woodley for his uselessness and the doctor abruptly leaves.
Trying to seduce his wife, he yells at his son for interrupting. As Paul leaves, Looseleaf enters with the news of his mother-in-law’s sudden death and his wife’s marriage. Irritated by these interruptions, Harold threatens Penelope and asks her what Woodley values most. When she says that his violin is his most prized possession, Harold flees out the door to destroy the violin.
In Heaven. Siegfried Von Konigswald and Wanda June are playing shuffleboard when they meet Mildred, Harold’s third wife. When they ask her to join the “Harold Ryan Fan Club,” she declines saying that Harold drove to her to drink.
In the apartment. Harold tells Looseleaf that he must wear his military regalia at his mother-in-law’s funeral when Shuttle enters. Shuttle faints at the sight of Harold.
ACT 3
In the apartment. The funeral is over and Harold, Looseleaf, Shuttle and Paul are sitting around the kitchen table. Shuttle is enamored with Harold’s persona as Harold discusses a trip to Africa. Penelope enters to collect Paul while Harold defends his decision to smash Woodley’s violin. When Looseleaf criticizes him, Harold orders him out. Shuttle tries to make Harold feel better but Harold teases the man. Shuttle leaves in tears.
Standing up to Harold, Penelope compares him to Woodley. As Harold verbally assaults Penelope, Paul returns from his room with the 22 Harold purchased for him earlier that day with the intention of protecting his mother. The doorbell rings and Woodley enters ready for another verbal confrontation. Disgusted by both men, Penelope takes Paul and leaves.
Just as the men attempt to clear the air, Harold pushes Woodley out the window to his death.
The apartment of Penelope and her 12-year old son Paul. It is the birthday of Penelope’s husband, Harold Ryan, who is presumed dead having been missing for 8 years while hunting in the Amazon. Full of angst, Paul idolizes the memory of his father and is angry at his mother for entertaining two neighbors, Herb Shuttle, a vacuum salesman, and Dr. Norbert Woodley, a physician and healer, on his father’s birthday.
Shuttle chases after Paul when he storms out and having lost the boy, he purchases the first birthday cake he can find to honor the boy’s father and make the boy feel better. In the meantime, Dr. Woodley asked Penelope to marry him and she says, yes. When Shuttle returns with the cake, Penelope and Shuttle leave to look for the boy.
While Woodley waits in the apartment, he falls asleep. Harold Ryan and his friend Colonel Looseleaf Harper enter finding the man asleep in the apartment. After making himself known and chasing him out, Harold comes across the birthday cake, which reads, Happy Birthday Wanda June.
In Heaven. 8-year old Wanda June tells the audience she was killed tragically on her birthday having been hit by an ice cream truck. In heaven she can play all day and is surrounded by many friends, including animals, dead soldiers, those who went to the electric chair, etc. Wanda June is happy to be dead.
In the apartment. Looseleaf and Harold exchange stories about dropping the atomic bomb and wives when Paul comes home. Harold introduces himself as a friend of his father’s and learns that Penelope has two suitors and has earned a college degree. Harold shares war stories, including one about killing the butcher of Yugoslavia, Siegfried Von Konigswald.
In Heaven. Von Konigswald is in heaven and tells a different version of Harold’s war story. He also describes his surroundings in Heaven and the people he encounters.
In the apartment. Harold tells Paul that his mother has agreed to marry Woodley just as Penelope and Shuttle enter the apartment to find Paul safely returned. Both Paul and Shuttle are upset and Shuttle leaves as Penelope collapses in her chair in shock at the return of Harold Ryan. Just as she tells Paul who the mysterious man is, Woodley returns. Penelope kisses both men on the cheek and introduces them to each other as her husband (Harold) and her fiancé (Woodley) before going to bed.
ACT 2
In the apartment. It is the next day. Paul wakes his mother with the news that his father is quite ill, so she sends for Woodley’s help. Having lived in the Amazon for years, Harold has these occasional spells, but carries with him a cure. Harold berates Woodley for his uselessness and the doctor abruptly leaves.
Trying to seduce his wife, he yells at his son for interrupting. As Paul leaves, Looseleaf enters with the news of his mother-in-law’s sudden death and his wife’s marriage. Irritated by these interruptions, Harold threatens Penelope and asks her what Woodley values most. When she says that his violin is his most prized possession, Harold flees out the door to destroy the violin.
In Heaven. Siegfried Von Konigswald and Wanda June are playing shuffleboard when they meet Mildred, Harold’s third wife. When they ask her to join the “Harold Ryan Fan Club,” she declines saying that Harold drove to her to drink.
In the apartment. Harold tells Looseleaf that he must wear his military regalia at his mother-in-law’s funeral when Shuttle enters. Shuttle faints at the sight of Harold.
ACT 3
In the apartment. The funeral is over and Harold, Looseleaf, Shuttle and Paul are sitting around the kitchen table. Shuttle is enamored with Harold’s persona as Harold discusses a trip to Africa. Penelope enters to collect Paul while Harold defends his decision to smash Woodley’s violin. When Looseleaf criticizes him, Harold orders him out. Shuttle tries to make Harold feel better but Harold teases the man. Shuttle leaves in tears.
Standing up to Harold, Penelope compares him to Woodley. As Harold verbally assaults Penelope, Paul returns from his room with the 22 Harold purchased for him earlier that day with the intention of protecting his mother. The doorbell rings and Woodley enters ready for another verbal confrontation. Disgusted by both men, Penelope takes Paul and leaves.
Just as the men attempt to clear the air, Harold pushes Woodley out the window to his death.
