Summary
The precarious world of theatrical ambition collides with domestic aspiration for Neal, a determined showman on the cusp of a crucial financial viewing for his latest production. His meticulously rehearsed preparations are abruptly derailed by a telegram from his beloved Natalie, announcing her imminent arrival with her father, who insists on inspecting Neal's supposed home before consenting to their marriage. Faced with the stark reality of having no house at all, Neal, in a stroke of desperate ingenuity, orchestrates the construction of a convincing, albeit entirely theatrical, residence from his stage scenery. This elaborate charade initially holds, even as Natalie’s father, a man of particular culinary tastes, demands to prepare his signature omelette, inadvertently exposing the kitchen’s flimsy artifice. Neal's frantic attempts to maintain the illusion escalate into a full-blown farce when the 'house' begins to literally disassemble, piece by piece, as its scenic components are required back at the theatre for ongoing acts. The ensuing chaos sees Neal and Natalie desperately herding her bewildered father through the shrinking, perpetually shifting domicile, all while Neal’s potential backers, witnessing the unfolding absurdity, begin to abandon ship. Yet, in the midst of this architectural ballet and comedic pandemonium, an unexpected opportunity arises from an unknown producer who recognizes the theatrical potential in Neal’s elaborate, collapsing deception.
Synopsis
Neal is interrupted in the rehearsal of the show, he is getting ready for viewing by his financial backers by the arrival of a telegram from Natalie, his sweetheart, saying that they can be married soon if Neal's house suits her father. Neal has no house at all and is about crazy until his stage manager suggests they build one from the scenery. The house is finished in time, for Natalie and her father to see upon their arrival. Everything appears all right until father offers to make one of his famous omelettes. He fakes a fight with the cook. But he manages to mix things up worse than ever. Then Neal tries to make the best of things by frantically attempting to fix up the phony kitchen so that it will cook the omelette. Just as father has the omelette cooked, the carpenters start removing. the front part of the house for the first act at the theatre. Piece by piece the "scenic" house is carried away while another section is returned from the theatre as soon as the acts are completed. Consequently, Neal and Natalie have a busy time trying to keep her father in the section of the house which is neatly whole at that particular time. The lack of scenery disgusts the financial men and they begin to leave one by one. Neal hears of this and rushes up to the remaining one and begins to plead with him. In the meantime one side of the house has collapsed on father and he has started out for Neal with blood in his eye. He arrives at the same time as an unknown producer who has witnessed the farce of the scenery house. The moneyed man offers Neal $10,000 for a play written about this trick house and gives him a check in advance, Neal pretends that he won't take the check because he informs Natalie and her father that he is through with the stage forever. But father has a change of heart insists that he take the check, and asks to take part in the play.
