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Lindbergh
Baby Kidnapped: THE STORY
The famous
crime is recounted through the eyes of six reporters
covering the surrounding events and hoopla. They play a
multitude of roles as they reenact their version of
events, each reporter putting forth a pet theory of what
may actually have happened. One of the reporters, Laura
Miles, a friend of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, identifies with
Anne and worships Lindy but, through the course of the
play, becomes disillusioned by a hero who is merely a
man.
In a prologue, the bare facts of the crime are examined
by the reporters ( "LINDBERGH BABY KIDNAPPED"
and UNDERSCORING).
Act One begins with Laura articulating her hero worship (
"THE MAN AND HIS MACHINE") Accosted by Lindy on
the grounds of his estate, the reporters revel in the
breaking story, the "crime of the century"
("IT'S A CIRCUS").
In flashbacks, we see Lindy dreaming of conquering the
air ("SCIENCE, BEAUTY, FREEDOM, FLIGHT"), and
the "circus" surrounding his historic
Transatlantic flight which precipitates his lifelong
distaste for the attentions of the press (REPRISE:
"IT'S A CIRCUS"). Then, after their marriage,
Anne and Lindy's solution for avoiding the press
("EVERYWHERE WE GO").
Back in the newsroom, the reporters begin to put forth
various theories on the crime. Two early suspects are the
baby's nanny Betty Gow ("SOMEONE IS WATCHING")
and her boyfriend Red Johnsen ("BETTY AND
RED").
Another suspect, Al Capone, offers his assistance
("WHAT KINDA BUM STEALS BABIES?"). The
kidnappers demand $50,000 ("RANSOM LETTER").
Anne Morrow Lindbergh asks, on the front pages of the
next mornings papers, that the kidnappers feed her baby
his usual diet ("BABY'S DIET").
A retired Bronx professor offers himself as intermediary
("JAFSIE CONDON OF THE BRONX HOME NEWS") and,
unbelievably, the kidnappers accept his offer and direct
him to put a message in the paper saying mony is
redy' ("MONY ISN'T REDY"). Jafsie meets the man
called "John" in Woodlawn Cemetery
("CEMETERY JOHN") and arranges the delivery of
the baby's pajamas as proof of the kidnappers' sincerity
("HOPE" and UNDERSCORING). After protracted
negotiations, Lindy and Jafsie hand over the ransom money
but information of the baby's whereabouts prove false
(PART 2: "CEMETERY JOHN").
Another suspect appears, one of the Morrow family maids
who can't quite explain what she was doing on the night
of the kidnaping ("ROADHOUSE TANGO"). After
further complications, the baby is found dead. Time
passes. Anne, who with Lindy is charting new routes for
airlines in South America, examines her grief
("DREAMING").
Two years later ("NEW DEAL), a suspect is arrested
for passing Lindbergh ransom money - at last! (FINALE ACT
I - "JUSTICE")

In Act Two, the jailed suspect, Bruno Richard Hauptmann,
is interrogated by Finn and handwriting experts are
called in ("ALBERT S. AND ALBERT D."). Finn
coerces the Alberts into a false positive on the test and
accuses Hauptmann of lying ("IF YOU WERE AN INNOCENT
OR HONEST MAN"). Finn brings in Jafsie to finger
Hauptmann and again coerces a false testimony. Finally
Anna Hauptmann is brought in but is unyielding to Finn's
interrogation. Hauptmann and Anna speak briefly and
Hauptmann imagines himself free once more to go walking
in the country with his infant child ("MY
SON").
The reporters question the viability of Hauptmann's guilt
(REPRISE: "MY SON") and (REPRISE: "IT'S A
CIRCUS).
At the trial, Anne testifies about her son ("BABY'S
THINGS). The trial goes on as we see all the politics and
hysteria of the media exposed by our roving reporters.
The reporters comment on the choice of lawyers for
Hauptmann ("DEATH HOUSE REILLY"). Hauptmann is
convicted and sentenced to the electric chair (REPRISE:
"IT'S A CIRCUS").
The reporters question the viability of Hauptmann's guilt
and look for someone who resembles a hero to step in
("ONLY A HERO WILL DO"). The Governor questions
the fairness of the trial and the verdict and grants a
reprieve, but with each subsequent postponement comes
public outcry. After three stays of execution the
Governor is unable to save Hauptmann from the electric
chair. Hauptmann is executed for the crime he says he
didn't commit. In his final hour he meets with a pastor
(REPRISE: "MY SON").
The reporters find themselves back at the opening
tableau. Laura comes to terms with her disillusionment (
FINALE ACT TWO: "TODAY"S NEWS").
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