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Plot of the Play

“The Inner Willy”

Impish, puckish Inner Willy is just about the most delightful character we've met. in long underwear and clownish felt hat, he pops out of thin air “on a burp”, to good sedate, somewhat stuffy Willougby into unbending and being himself. Willoughby, embarrassed by this arrogant apparition who follows him around and audaciously perches on the pian, legs danbling while he munches cucumbers, [anathema to Willy] rebels a first, and calls Inner Willy a "supercharged atom". But no amount of vituperation can squelch this little demon. He is really there for Willoughby’s good, you see.

For Willy has been too long [16 years] under the over-solicitous influence of his three maiden aunts. He dutifully practiced the piano, swallowed gallons of cod liver oil, eaten turnips, which he loaths, and listened to his aunt's arguments over whether he should become a lawyer, musician, or architect. [He wants to be a geologist]. Now with the protagonist, Inner Willy, to help, he spurns these impositions, [tearfully conceded by his aunts, and even asserts himself enough to notice girls for the first time. Then the predicaments really begin—maneuvered by Inner Willy. Willoughby asks attractive Carol Martin to the school dance, and is mauled by Carol’s “steady”, Stanley Clark, for so doing. Two more dance partners materialize—Marybelle [his aunt's choice] who doesn’t have the mumps after all, and Judy, one of the twins, who assumes Willy will escort her.

Not until Willoughby satisfactorily disposes. of the girls complications, arranges the dance details [even to refusing to wear his overcoat], and makes an issue of a career choice, does the “pest” Inner Willy vanish.

THE CAST

[Produced by permission from the Row, Peterson and Company]

(from a yearbook held by the Reardan Schools.)