Summary
Hen Peck, a modestly prosperous clerk whose nickname belies his timid disposition, finds his domestic equilibrium shattered when a troupe of flamboyant chorus girls, fresh from the glittering stages of vaudeville, infiltrates his suburban household under the pretext of rehearsing a community fundraiser. Their vivacious rehearsals, punctuated by clattering tap shoes and off‑key arias, become the backdrop for a series of increasingly precarious misunderstandings. Hen, eager to impress the women and secure a promotional recommendation, inadvertently entangles himself in their tangled web of flirtatious banter and clandestine scheming. Meanwhile, a hapless burglar—renowned in the local underworld for his spectacularly botched heists—targets the Peck residence, mistaking a concealed stash of theatrical props for valuable jewels. As the burglar prowls the shadows, the chorus girls, mistaking his presence for a new suitor, usher him into their rehearsals, while Hen, desperate to conceal his involvement, concocts a labyrinth of alibis that only deepen his wife's suspicions. The ensuing comedy of errors culminates in a chaotic midnight showdown in the attic, where broken chandeliers, misplaced costume jewelry, and a misfired firecracker create a tableau of pandemonium. In the aftermath, Hen's wife, initially outraged, discovers the absurdity of the circumstances and, with a blend of sarcasm and affection, forgives her husband, leaving the audience with a lingering question about the fragility of marital trust in the face of theatrical illusion.
Synopsis
The embarrassing marital difficulties encountered by one "Hen" Peck when he becomes involved in the meshes of a net woven by a number of chorus girls and a terrifically bad burglar.
Bud Duncan, Dot Farley, Kewpie Morgan
Deep Analysis
