THE GOODBYE GIRL A musical in 2 acts, 21 scenes: Book by Neil Simon (based on his screenplay for the film of the same name); Music by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyrics by David Zippel Opened Marquis Theatre 4 March, 1993 (188 perfs) SYNOPSIS This musical turns the film comedy into an adventure about love and commitment. Single mother Paula has to share her absent boyfriend's New York apartment with Elliot, a struggling actor. They fall in love, which alarms her 12-year old daughter, Lucy, who is cared that Elliot, like all of Paula's boyfriends, will dump her mother - causing yet another example of "The Goodbye Girl" syndrome. Of course, in the end, everything turns out happily. STORY ACT I Pauls McFadden, a single mother, and her 12-year old daughter, Lucy, had reason to be excited today. Tony, an actor that Paula had been dating for the last few months, had promised her that today was the day they would all move to California. Though Paula had been dumped many times in the past, this time she knew that with Tony everything was going to be all right. Her euphoria, however, is short-lived, for Paula spots a note that he has written, "Dear Paula … this isn't an easy letter to write. This morning my agent called. I got a picture. It's six months shooting in Spain … I wish I has something to leave you and the kid, but I'm dead broke … Goodbye, honey." With no income to rely on Paula reluctantly decides to go back to dancing, a career she gave up long ago. Returning to dance class, she comes to the horrible realisation that she's "A Beat Behind." As Paula limps home from class she runs into Mrs. Crosby, the manager of her building, who asks Paula if she's leaving tonight or in the morning. Paula realises that she has forgotten to tell her that they are not going to California. Mrs Crosby then add insult to Paula's dance class injuries and tells her that Tony has sublet the apartment to his friend, Elliot Garfield. That evening Elliot ( who has come to New York to star in an Off-OffBroadway production of Richard III) shows up to take up residence. What is the answer? The only solution is to share the apartment, Elliot suggests. Paula is forced to accept. She reasons that she will be looking for a job during the day, and Elliot will be performing at night, therefore, with any luck, they probably will never see each other. Paula explains the rules of the apartment, but Elliot will have none of them. Elliot goes into his bedroom while Paula and Lucy go into theirs. They all evaluate the realities of thier predicament. The next day Paula asks Lucy whether she were bothered about her and Tony; about living with him and not being amrried. Lucy responds sympathetically. "Just like if it happened to me when I grow up you'll understand." "The hell I would" Paula retorts. Elliot offers to pay all the living expenses until Paula finds a job. She misunderstands his motives however. She has lost faith in every man so when confronted with a decent one she can't even recognise it.
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