Synopsis

Act I. The first scene takes place in a park in New York City on a May afternoon. Sylvia Levine, a piano teacher, meets with her sweetheart David, a struggling songwriter. They have to meet in the park because Sylvia’s mother does not approve of David. Sylvia’s parents––Rifka and Shloima Levine––both work as matchmakers because they cannot find other employment. Rifka would prefer that her daughter marry one of her clients, Mr. Rader. He is a producer in his mid-forties who can offer economic security and would help Rifka become a star. David tells Sylvia he also wants to make her a star––he would write her songs and she could sing them on Broadway. Sylvia says she cares most about being able to marry David and supporting him in his career. They fantasize about a glamorous future in a musical number. Enter Shloima, who has gone to the park to escape Rivka’s constant verbal abuse. He is a simple, sympathetic man who flavors his Yiddish with broken English. Shloima views matchmaking as an “art,” while Rifka just tries to arrange matches as quickly as possible. Sylvia tells Shloima that David sent two songs to a producer and is waiting to hear if he has gotten his big break. Shloima and Sylvia reluctantly return to the apartment, since Sylvia needs to give a piano lesson.

A half an hour later, in the Levine home, Rifka handles a complaint from a middle-aged client, Mrs. Shmuckler, that the match she suggested was a dishonest younger man who just wanted to marry her for her money. Rifka asks what else she should expect if she wants a young man––the matchmaker refuses to take any responsibility for the situation, but Shloima sympathizes with Mrs. Schmuckler’s desire for love. Rifka scolds her husband for meddling in her work. Sylvia’s piano student, Rosalind, arrives. Sylvia tries to give her a lesson, but her parents keep interfering, even though Sylvia tries to tell them that this behavior is the reason why she only has one student. Mr. Schmaltz and his daughter Sadie arrive to discuss a match for Sadie. Rifka tells Sylvia she can go into the kitchen with Rosalind (even though the piano is in the living room) or send the girl home because her teaching does not bring in much income anyway and is thus less important than dealing with clients. Sylvia finally gives up in frustration. After the Schmaltzes leave, Mr. Rader arrives with his audacious red-headed “niece” Shirley, who does not seem particularly thrilled with the idea of Mr. Rader courting Sylvia. He tries to convince Sylvia to get engaged to him before his upcoming trip to Chicago and then travel with him and get married in Chicago. When David arrives, Mr. Rader gives Shirley a look. She runs to David, embraces him, and claims he had told her he loved her. Sylvia is horrified and refuses to believe David that he had never seen Shirley before in his life. David leaves, vowing to find out more about Mr. Rader, while the producer triumphantly holds Sylvia’s hand as she weeps. Rifka is so delighted by Mr. Rader’s attention to her daughter that she does not notice how Shirley is using her feminine wiles to distract Shloima.

Act II. One week later, at the Levine home. Shloima answers a telephone call from David, and explains that Sylvia will celebrate her engagement to Mr. Rader later that day. Shloima and Rifka are visited by some of their clients. They try and fail to set them up, in part because they are unable to agree on how to decide if a match is appropriate. Sylvia returns home, and Shloima tries to talk to her about David, but Rifka refuses to hear about the “beggar.” Sylvia admits she still loves him. She sits at the piano and sings one of David’s songs.

Scene 2 takes place an hour later at the engagement party, hosted by the Levines in their home. Sylvia sits at the piano looking pale and sad. Shloima anxiously waits to hear from David. Shirley tells Mr. Rader that she is losing patience with him and that his plans to court, get engaged with, and marry “this starry eyed kid” have gone too far––if he doesn’t stop soon, “I’ll squeal.” Suddenly David arrives, much to Rifka and Mr. Rader’s dismay. David announces that Mr. Rader isn’t really a producer––he is actually a “vice lord” and a pimp. Shirley is his lover and a madam. Their plans foiled, Mr. Rader and Shirley leave the party in haste before David can call the police. Having finally seen the harm that comes from not properly vetting clients, Rifka agrees to treat Shloima with more respect in the future. Sylvia thanks David for saving her from “a living death.” Even Rifka calls him a “dear boy.” Shloima announces that David sold two songs to a recording producer and they will be in a new show––he has gotten his big break, and now the sweethearts can get married.