Summary
Act 1
The tale of Idiot’s Delight unfolds in the sophisticated cocktail lounge of Hotel Monte Gabriele, a fictional retreat nestled in the majestic Italian Alps, precariously close to the borders of Austria, Switzerland, and Bavaria. Here, next to the hotel, lies an airfield poised for Italian bombers, a somber reminder of impending conflict as whispers of World War II loom large on the horizon. Act 1 opens with the arrival of Donald Navadel, an astute American consultant tasked with enticing travelers to the snowy allure of Monte Gabriele’s winter sports. He strides into the lounge, observing its emptiness, and dismisses the orchestra for a break. Soon, Pittaluga, the fiery hotel manager, storms in, fuming over Don’s audacity to overreach his duties. Their argument is cut short by Captain Locicero, the stern commander from the Italian headquarters, who reveals the strategic significance of the airfield when war erupts, though the identity of the future adversary remains a mystery.
Meanwhile, the train bound for Geneva finds itself detained at Monte Gabriele due to a sudden closure of the border. Frustrated travelers, in search of accommodations, wander in and out of the lounge. Among them are Dr. Waldersee, a German desperate to continue his groundbreaking cancer research in Austria; Mr. and Mrs. Cherry, a newlywed British couple fresh from their nuptials in Florence; and a troupe of showgirls led by their manager, Harry Van. Dr. Waldersee dreams of curing cancer, while the Cherrys bask in their honeymoon glow. Quillery, a man without a nation, slides into a seat at the bar beside Harry. Though born in France, Quillery identifies as a laborer and professes his pacifism, steadfast in his belief that peace will triumph. Harry, in a moment of stark clarity induced by cocaine, muses on humanity’s addiction to "false beliefs—false fears—false enthusiasms."
Quillery bolts out upon overhearing Italian soldiers declare the war’s commencement. Dumptsy, the bellhop, engages Harry in conversation, shedding light on the region's turbulent history: Monte Gabriele was once Austrian until the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 handed it to Italy, along with a new name and language, even rewriting the words on gravestones.
Enter Irene, followed by her companion, Achille Weber, who assure the anxious onlookers that war is but a rumor. Harry finds himself captivated by Irene, and as she departs, he unconsciously plays the Russian melody "Kak Stranna," unaware of its connection to her. They watch in apprehension as bomber planes soar from the airfield amidst whispers of a potential confrontation between Italy and France, though nothing is confirmed.
Act 2
Scene 1 descends into the evening hours as the hotel staff report a baffling silence from the radio regarding any outbreak of war. Quillery enters, certain that Weber, a prominent arms dealer, holds the key to the truth about impending conflict. He clashes with Dr. Waldersee over the Nazi regime's grip on Germany, and then with Cherry, accusing the English of being too complacent and affluent to fight.
Harry, arriving after Quillery and the Cherrys' departure, reveals his curiosity about Irene and proposes a performance by his girls to alleviate the rising tension in the air.
Irene and Weber reappear, and in a clandestine exchange, Weber reveals that the planes have embarked on a mission to bomb Paris. With Weber gone, Irene regales the Cherrys with a tale of her noble lineage as a countess of the Romanoff family, fleeing Bolshevik forces with the aid of English soldiers. She confides in Mrs. Cherry, admitting that she has seen Harry perform before.
In Scene 2, Captain Locicero announces his inability to glean any news of war...
(This entire section contains 1179 words.)
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from the radio. He leaves to inspect the airfield as some bombers return. Weber and Irene candidly express their disdain for the war’s inevitable casualties, though Weber senses a shift in Irene, her sarcasm hinting at a growing unease over the impending carnage. Harry Van's troupe proceeds to entertain, but their performance is disrupted when Quillery bursts in, proclaiming Paris has been bombed. While Harry attempts to calm him, Quillery's patriotic fervor ignites, railing against the Italians, and proclaiming that France, England, and America will unite against them. Mr. Cherry and Harry apologize for his outburst. The scene closes with Quillery, once a self-proclaimed citizen of no nation, being dragged away, shouting, "Vive la France!"
Scene 3 unveils itself later in the night. Irene spins another fabricated tale of her dramatic escape from revolutionary Russia. As she extols Weber's esteemed reputation, Harry studies her intently, piecing together the enigma of her identity. Reflecting on his past, he recalls a young, fiery-haired Russian girl named Irene from a fleeting encounter in Omaha, Nebraska. The realization dawns on him that this Irene is indeed that very girl, though she denies it with a flicker of intrigue.
Act 3
As the sun dipped below the horizon the next day, Captain Locicero strode forward, triumphantly declaring that he had secured the government's blessing to allow most of the passengers from the train to continue on their journey and traverse the awaiting border. Harry excitedly informed his troupe of girls that their performance in Geneva would shine brighter if he refrained from singing or dancing. In that moment, Don entered the scene, announcing his imminent departure from the hotel with plans to return to the golden shores of California. His decision was partly driven by his chilling experience earlier that day, witnessing Quillery's execution by firing squad.
Mrs. Cherry pondered the possibility of her husband joining the war effort, envisioning a future where he might rain bombs upon Venice, the city where they had recently exchanged vows. As the captain relayed the news that their passports had been fortuitously liberated—mere moments before Britain declared war on France—Mrs. Cherry echoed Quillery's condemnation of the Italians. Her husband, however, sought to quell her fervor. Meanwhile, Dr. Waldersee lamented that he would abandon his cancer research, returning to Germany with the shadowy prospect of being conscripted into crafting chemical weapons.
Uncertain Journeys
While Irene's passport did not receive approval, Captain Locicero was inclined to permit her departure due to her association with Weber. Yet, Weber shirked the responsibility, leaving the captain no option but to hold her back. Harry lingered by her side until the last possible moment, while his girls and Don beckoned him toward the train. As he turned to leave, Irene revealed that it was indeed she who shared that secretive night with him in an Omaha hotel, offering the memory of room 974 as proof.
Moments after the train vanished into the distance, Harry returned with a heartfelt commitment to join her the following day. He vowed to take her as a partner and unveil the mysteries of the mind-reading act he had once promised her in Omaha. As French bombs began to rain down on the airfield, an echo of retribution for the prior day's assault, Harry took to the piano with Wagner’s stirring "Ride of the Valkyries." Yet, Irene softly requested a hymn. Bombs thundered around them, their voices lifted together in the resilient strains of "Onward, Christian Soldiers."
