The Quaker Girl - Synopsis

Synopsis

Act I

Nathaniel and Rachel Pym are the grim and proper rulers of an early 19th century Quaker community in an English village. A mysterious young French lady and her not-too-bright maid Phoebe arrive to stay at Mrs. Lukyn's hotel. The lady turns out to be the exiled Princess Mathilde of France ("O, Time, Time"). She is followed by Captain Charteris, whom she intends to marry in the village church despite her previous engagement to Prince Carlo. Charteris has his best man with him, Tony Chute, of the American Embassy in Paris, as well as Madame Blum, a famous Parisian dressmaker.

Prudence Pym, the niece Nathaniel and Rachel, longs for a more exciting life and someone to love ("A Quaker Girl"). She meets Tony, and they are attracted to one another. Madame Blum, struck by Prudence's charmingly simple grey Quaker dress, tries to persuade her to accompany her back to Paris ("Tip Toe"). The marriage ceremony between the princess and Charteris takes place, and Prudence, carried away by the gaiety of the scene, is induced to take a sip of champagne. At this moment, with the wine to her lips, her aunt and uncle and the other Quakers appear on the scene. They sternly command her to leave these sinful people. Prudence decides to leave the dull life behind and to follow Madame Blum and the princess to Paris. She is disowned by her family.

Act II

Employed as a mannequin in Madame Blum's establishment in Paris, Prudence's simple costume becomes all the rage among the women, and she herself becomes extremely popular with the young men, including Prince Carlo (who had been engaged to Princess Mathilde) and Monsieur Duhamel, a distinguished government minister. This attention is most unwelcome to Tony Chute, who still has feelings for Prudence. The princess is disguised as one of Madame Blum's work girls, since she has been exiled for being a Bonapartiste. Tony's ex-girlfriend, Diane, a mercurial French actress, conspires to interfere with Tony and Prudence's budding romance. She has love letters from Duhamel, Carlo and Tony and intends to give Prudence the letters from Tony. At a costume fitting where Prudence is modeling a dress, Diane slips the letters into Prudence's pocket. But she inadvertently passes along Duhamel's letters, instead of Tony's.

Prince Carlo invites Prudence and all of Blum's employees to a Ball ("Come to the Ball"), but Tony, knowing the Prince's reputation as a seducer, begs Prudence not to go. Prudence promises, and she receives her first kiss. Princess Mathilde is being pursued by the Monsieur Larose, the dogged Chief of Police, and the Prince has recognized Princess Mathilde. He threatens to reveal her identity to Larose unless Prudence accompanies him to the ball. For the sake of Mathilde, Prudence reluctantly agrees, breaking her promise to Tony. Tony is furious, believing her to be unfaithful.

Act III

At the lavish ball, Prudence, evading the prince, finds herself alone with her other suitor, Duhamel. She confronts him with his love letters showing that he has not been faithful to her. Duhamel assumes she is trying to blackmail him into letting Mathide stay in France, but Prudence tells him that she merely wants to return the letters to their rightful owner. Ashamed of his suspicion, and humbled by her simple honesty, Duhamel agrees to allow Mathilde to remain in Paris. Tony now learns the true story, and he begs forgiveness for having doubted her. All ends happily, with Prudence accompanying him back to the New World.