Full Synopsis
Full Synopsis
Act One
A presidential campaign is being waged on an American main street. The voters are choosing between the incumbent, John P. Wintergreen, and a newcomer, John P. Tweedledee. Wintergreen, who originally ran for the White House on a campaign of love, is flanked by pictures of his twin children on his campaign banner. Tweedledee is flanked by twin question marks. Their supporters sing at each other at an increasingly loud volume ("Opening: Act I").
General Adam Snookfield and Miss Trixie Flynn, a member of Snookfield's entourage, are listening to the election results. Trixie is distressed because an Admiral who was supposed to appear as a date for her friend Daisy calls to say he is not coming. Secretary of the Navy Gilhooley, Secretary of Agriculture Lippman, Senator Carver Jones, Senator Robert E. Lyons, and Secretary of State Fulton enter with their wives. The General explains his wife was unable to attend, and introduces Trixie as his "collaborator." She continues to fret about Daisy's lack of a date. Mary Wintergreen enters, followed by President Wintergreen. The radio announces a landslide victory for Tweedledee. Wintergreen calls in the Supreme Court and asks them to throw out the election results. The Court refuses and goes off with Trixie to be Daisy's date. Fulton indicates he is already in the Tweedledee camp and leaves. The others plan their futures, a distinctly unpleasant prospect as the Depression is in full swing. Vice-President Throttlebottom appears, wearing a party hat to celebrate his re-election. He is, as usual, the last to be informed.
John and Mary Wintergreen and the others decide to go into the shirt-making business when everyone becomes excited by the blue shirt Mary has made for 50 cents. The new business will be located on Union Square, New York City. Throttlebottom will underwrite the new shirt-manufacturing business with $5000.
The business is established in a store front on Union Square. A sign reads "John P. Wintergreen & Co., Creators of the Original Maryblue Shirt." The two adjoining stores are boarded up. A procession of citizens enter Union Square carrying banners ("Union Square"). A group of radicals, led by a malcontent named Kruger, enters. Kruger presents his agenda, "Down with everything that's up!" A fight breaks out. When Gilhooley, who is now a policeman, appears, the crowd instantly becomes agreeable, bursts into an idyllic song, and leaves, arm in arm.
Gilhooley stops to chat with Wintergreen, who tells him business is horrible. Gilhooley says they are lucky to be out of the White House. Nobody is working; even the Post Office has closed. Throttlebottom appears, carrying a sandwich board advertising the shirt company. They are joined by Mary, Jones, Lyons, and Lippman report back from visits to the West, the South, and the bank that help is not on the way. The business is bankrupt. Former newspaper magnate and Secretary of State Fulton appears dressed as a poor newsboy. Kruger reappears and begins talking about revolution. Wintergreen suddenly has a brilliant idea. He will sell revolution with his shirts. Everyone who buys a Maryblue shirt will be promised a revolution-or get their money back. He says "We'll give the country back to the people."
Inside the New Store, business is bustling. There are piles and piles of blue shirts. Salesgirls and customers exchange comments about the popularity of the shirts ("Store Scene"). Fulton, Jones, Lyons, and Lippman report brisk sales around the country. Gilhooley, still a policeman, enters. Wintergreen says his next step is to involve the army. Kruger, who is helping Wintergreen's cause, says as soon as Wintergreen gets back into power, he will work to get him out. He's always against the fellow who's in. Wintergreen thinks he would like to have the revolution on July 4th. General Snookfield and Trixie enter. He refuses to join the revolution: he is a member of the Union League Club and knows that they would not approve. Wintergreen learns Throttlebottom's uncle is an attendant at the club. He sends his reluctant former Vice President to sell shirts to the club membership, enlisting their support for the revolution.
A group of ancient gentlemen are asleep in their easy chairs at The Union League Club. They rouse themselves to sing "Union League." Throttlebottom and his ancient Uncle William enter with a pile of shirts. After Throttlebottom finally gets the members to wake up, they think he is saying we are fighting the British again; they immediately buy shirts and enlist ("Come The Revolution").
The General and Wintergreen are leading an army to Washington ("On and On and On"). They stop along the road. Wintergreen and the General plot to seize the President as he gives a speech at nine o'clock.
A Fourth of July celebration is in progress on the White House lawn ("Finale: Act I"). General Snookfield addresses the crowd, followed by President Tweedledee. Trixie signals the General it's time to leave for their party with Daisy. Tweedledee drones on. The General indicates to the President the party is starting and leaves. Wintergreen and the Army seize power from the President with support of the President's own men. Wintergreen takes power and Kruger begins to rail against him. Wintergreen promises the people not just their daily bread, but cake. The flag of the revolution, a white banner with a blue shirt emblazoned on it, is flown. Rockets burst. Cannons boom.
Act Two
The White House has become the Blue House. Even the portraits on the walls now wear blue shirts. The company sings about the new regime ("Opening: Act II"). Wintergreen ordains that there should be a new Mickey Mouse every day, not once a month. He also orders Mae West to replace George Washington on the postage stamp. It becomes apparent that Wintergreen is becoming more and more of a dictator. He has merged all newspapers into one. The Supreme Court appears in chains, asking to be pardoned. Wintergreen agrees, and orders them to become a baseball team. The General appears, saying he has lost the army as well as Trixie. Wintergreen, figuring Trixie and the Army might be togther, suggests Snnokfield look for both of them under Snookfield's bed. Left alone, Wintergreen practices walking like Napoleon. Mary enters. She is meeting with the new D.A.R. she has just organized. She tells the Daughters her new rules for Revoltionary Bridge. They leave as Throttlebottom appears. Wintergreen and his henchmen are nervous about Throttlebottom. They don't include him in their plans anymore, but Wintergreen feels an allegiance to him. Wintergreen makes him the umpire to the Supreme Court baseball team. Kruger enters. He has joined the army and wants his share of the war debt. The League of Nations enters with a group of pretty female interpreters ("The League of Nations"). Finland pays its war debt, which Wintergreen hands over to Kruger for the Army. However, the other countries refuse to pay. When Wintergreen realizes there are nine countries involved, he organizes them into a team. The League Team will challenge the Supreme Court Team. If they lose the League team loses, they'll pay-double or nothing
The Supreme Court team is outside the Ball Park ("Up And At 'Em"). Kruger tells Throttlebottom that the Blue Shirt Supreme Court team has to win or Throttlebottom will end up dead. Throttlebottom unsuccessfully tries to get out of being an umpire.
A trial is taking place in a military courtroom. Wintergreen presides in a judicial robe and wig. Throttlebottom is accused of allowing the enemy to win the ball game ("The Trial of Throttlebottom"). Throttlebottom is convicted and sentenced to be executed by guillotine. The army demands to be paid. Kruger reprises "Union Square," realizing the army will support him now. He puts on Wintergreen's wig and places the President on trial ("Trial of Wintergreen"). Wintergreen, Gilhooley, Lippman, Jones, Lyons, and Fulton are sentenced to be beheaded. Mary and the wives try to save them by announcing they are all expecting babies. The ploy fails, and the convicted men are marched off. Trixie appears, followed by sailors. Kruger may have the army, but she has the navy. They decide to rule together ("First Lady and First Gent").
A happy crowd, dressed in blue, is forming at the guillotine ("They're Hanging Throttlebottom in the Morning"). Kruger and Daisy review the events of the day. The executions will be followed by a band concert and lunch. The guillotine is unveiled and proves to be painted in bright colors. General Snookfield is to be the executioner. Throttlebottom is first, but Snookfield can't figure out how to work the guillotine. Mary appears with the wives to do a fashion show ("Fashion Show"). The assembled women love the dresses, but can't wear them because the revolutionary color is blue. The women declare the revolution ended. Wintergreen and his cronies decide to retire from revolting to become dress manufacturers. They restore the Republic and reappoint Tweedledee. They make Throttlebottom Vice President because Tweedledee can't remember the name of his Vice President. But Tweedledee can't be President-after the revolution, he accepted a position as President of Cuba. Therefore Throttlebottom is now President. He promises to give the people pistachio ice cream instead of cake ("Finale Ultimo").