Track 1:
Flush with excitement over his success in Newport, the classiest stop on his tour, Jack allows himself a fantasy;
What if he’d grown up in Vaudeville instead of Charlestown?
What if instead of complaining about and questioning his every move,
Mud was a Show Biz trouper too?
Jack pictures himself at ten with his surprisingly glamorous Mud,
getting revenge on his father and travelling the nation as;
MUD DONAHUE AND SON — Mrs. Donahue & Jack
Track 2:
A number from Jack’s act.
One of Jack Donahue’s actual routine was his famous Shadow Dance
which inspired;
THE SHADOW — Jack
Track 3:
Some bad luck and even worse choices, have Jack exhibiting, in his mother’s words;
‘the behavior of a drinking man!’ This is Mrs. Donahue’s heartfelt plea to her son, not to wind up like his father,
And in spite of his vehement protestations,
As this song ends the first act,
we see Jack taking a drink.
MY SON, I KNOW YOU’RE DRINKIN’
— Mrs. Donahue & Jack
Track 4:
At our story’s climax, Jack is in Vermont.
The final stop of his tour.
Though Jack has finally been offered a second tour he has decided to quit Vaudeville for his mother’s sake.
Jack has proven to himself time and time again that he can’t send a dime home when he’s on the road.
With her husband gone, maybe for good, he knows he owes his mother. But Mud has had a revelation of her own!
Her Favorite Confession Priest had a confession for her;
He’s seen Jack’s act and it’s a knock out!
So for once and for all, Mrs. Donahue decides to find out for herself.
She rushes to Vermont in time to catch what might be her son’s final encore;
VAUDEVILLE MAN — Jack & Mrs. Donahue
