第一幕
　　二十世纪初，印第安人曾居住过的美国西部，牛仔和农民为争夺土地和水源矛盾频频。
　　爱勒姑姑(Aunt Eller)在自己房子外面搅拌奶油，年轻的牛仔克理(Curly)唱着歌走了过来(“Oh，What a Beautiful Morning” -- “哦，多美的早晨”)。克理是来邀请爱勒姑姑的侄女，劳瑞(Laurey)，去参加今晚的舞会的。劳瑞接待了克里，但是她对他的态度不甚热情，克理为了让她高兴，给她讲述了今晚他要驾驶的马车(“Surreywith the Fringe on Top”-- “带流苏的四轮马车”)。但是，最后他还是坦白了带流苏的四轮马车只是他自己的想象，惹得劳瑞更加生气。这时，维尔·帕克(WillParker)来了，他给他们讲了自己最近在堪萨斯城的经历(“Kansas City” -- “堪萨斯城”)。他在套小牛比赛上赢了五十块钱，对于他，这五十块钱可以说相当重要。他想娶爱多·安妮(AdoAnnie)，但是他的父亲，安德鲁·卡恩斯(Andrew Carnes)是当地的法官，不同意这门婚事，除非他有足够的能力攒五十块钱。
　　虽然对克里不理不睬，其实劳瑞真心喜欢的还是克理。为了让克理嫉妒，她决定和雇工查德(Jud)一起去舞会。当她听说克理要和别的姑娘去舞会的时候，她的反应只是淡淡的(“Manya New Day” -- “新的日子还多”)。这时，爱多·安妮公布了她的舞伴，原来是波斯小贩阿里·哈克姆(AliHakim)，她还说，她实在不能拒绝任何一个男人(“I Can't Say No” -- “我不会说不”)。阿里和爱多·安妮调笑被她的父亲看到，气愤的法官逼阿里娶他的女儿。维尔则把五十块钱全花在买给爱多·安妮的礼物上。
　　当克理和劳瑞再次见面，他们决定还是一道去参加舞会。但是他们又不想让邻居们知道他们真正的动机(“People Will Say We're in Love” -- “人们会以为我们坠入爱河”)。但是，接下来头疼的问题就是要告诉查德这个消息。克理找到查德的小屋，那其实是做熏肉的薰制室，又暗又破。克理先是告诉查德，虽然大家对他好像不友好，其实他们都觉得他不错，如果他死的话，会有好多人参加他的葬礼，而且会大哭一场的(“PoreJud!” -- “可怜的查德！”)。接着他就告诉查德劳瑞要和他一起去舞会。他走了之后，查德一个人在房间里难过(“Lonely Room” -- “孤独的房间”)。
　　劳瑞的梦境转化成一段场面浩大的舞蹈。她梦见嫁给了克理，但是他们的快乐被查德打断了，他痛打了克理，然后逼迫劳瑞跟他远走高飞。查德的到来惊醒了她的恶梦，他来是要求劳瑞和他一起去舞会的。接着，克理也来到劳瑞家里要求同样的事情。劳瑞害怕梦中的事情是未来的预告，她决定和查德一起去。而克理则剩在一边，大惑不解。
第二幕
　　当晚的舞会，果然十分欢快有趣，牛仔和农夫们为他们之间争吵开着玩笑(“TheFarmer and the Cowman” -- “农夫和牧牛人”)。接下来的活动是拍卖女孩子制作的食品盒，男人们纷纷掏钱，要购买他们喜欢的女孩子制作的盒子。劳瑞的盒子立刻成了克理和查德争夺的对象。克理最后卖掉了全部家当，以.31的高价买下了食品盒。与此同时，阿里用五十块钱买下了维尔的所有礼物，原来阿里并不想娶爱多，他更想帮维尔如愿以偿。于是维尔和爱多兴致勃勃地谈起他们未来的生活(“All or Nothing” -- “孤注一掷”)。
　　三个月后，克理和劳瑞的婚礼即将举行。这时候，喝醉了得查德突然在婚礼上出现了，他用刀威胁克理，两人扭打起来，之中，查德摔在刀刃上，死了。爱多的父亲，卡恩斯法官开始了紧急审讯，但是最终的结果是克理无罪施放，于是克理带着心爱的姑娘一路去度蜜月了(“Oklahoma!”-- “俄克拉荷马！”)。

第一幕
　　二十世纪初，印第安人曾居住过的美国西部，牛仔和农民为争夺土地和水源矛盾频频。
　　爱勒姑姑(Aunt Eller)在自己房子外面搅拌奶油，年轻的牛仔克理(Curly)唱着歌走了过来(“Oh，What a Beautiful Morning” -- “哦，多美的早晨”)。克理是来邀请爱勒姑姑的侄女，劳瑞(Laurey)，去参加今晚的舞会的。劳瑞接待了克里，但是她对他的态度不甚热情，克理为了让她高兴，给她讲述了今晚他要驾驶的马车(“Surreywith the Fringe on Top”-- “带流苏的四轮马车”)。但是，最后他还是坦白了带流苏的四轮马车只是他自己的想象，惹得劳瑞更加生气。这时，维尔·帕克(WillParker)来了，他给他们讲了自己最近在堪萨斯城的经历(“Kansas City” -- “堪萨斯城”)。他在套小牛比赛上赢了五十块钱，对于他，这五十块钱可以说相当重要。他想娶爱多·安妮(AdoAnnie)，但是他的父亲，安德鲁·卡恩斯(Andrew Carnes)是当地的法官，不同意这门婚事，除非他有足够的能力攒五十块钱。
　　虽然对克里不理不睬，其实劳瑞真心喜欢的还是克理。为了让克理嫉妒，她决定和雇工查德(Jud)一起去舞会。当她听说克理要和别的姑娘去舞会的时候，她的反应只是淡淡的(“Manya New Day” -- “新的日子还多”)。这时，爱多·安妮公布了她的舞伴，原来是波斯小贩阿里·哈克姆(AliHakim)，她还说，她实在不能拒绝任何一个男人(“I Can't Say No” -- “我不会说不”)。阿里和爱多·安妮调笑被她的父亲看到，气愤的法官逼阿里娶他的女儿。维尔则把五十块钱全花在买给爱多·安妮的礼物上。
　　当克理和劳瑞再次见面，他们决定还是一道去参加舞会。但是他们又不想让邻居们知道他们真正的动机(“People Will Say We're in Love” -- “人们会以为我们坠入爱河”)。但是，接下来头疼的问题就是要告诉查德这个消息。克理找到查德的小屋，那其实是做熏肉的薰制室，又暗又破。克理先是告诉查德，虽然大家对他好像不友好，其实他们都觉得他不错，如果他死的话，会有好多人参加他的葬礼，而且会大哭一场的(“PoreJud!” -- “可怜的查德！”)。接着他就告诉查德劳瑞要和他一起去舞会。他走了之后，查德一个人在房间里难过(“Lonely Room” -- “孤独的房间”)。
　　劳瑞的梦境转化成一段场面浩大的舞蹈。她梦见嫁给了克理，但是他们的快乐被查德打断了，他痛打了克理，然后逼迫劳瑞跟他远走高飞。查德的到来惊醒了她的恶梦，他来是要求劳瑞和他一起去舞会的。接着，克理也来到劳瑞家里要求同样的事情。劳瑞害怕梦中的事情是未来的预告，她决定和查德一起去。而克理则剩在一边，大惑不解。
第二幕
　　当晚的舞会，果然十分欢快有趣，牛仔和农夫们为他们之间争吵开着玩笑(“TheFarmer and the Cowman” -- “农夫和牧牛人”)。接下来的活动是拍卖女孩子制作的食品盒，男人们纷纷掏钱，要购买他们喜欢的女孩子制作的盒子。劳瑞的盒子立刻成了克理和查德争夺的对象。克理最后卖掉了全部家当，以.31的高价买下了食品盒。与此同时，阿里用五十块钱买下了维尔的所有礼物，原来阿里并不想娶爱多，他更想帮维尔如愿以偿。于是维尔和爱多兴致勃勃地谈起他们未来的生活(“All or Nothing” -- “孤注一掷”)。
　　三个月后，克理和劳瑞的婚礼即将举行。这时候，喝醉了得查德突然在婚礼上出现了，他用刀威胁克理，两人扭打起来，之中，查德摔在刀刃上，死了。爱多的父亲，卡恩斯法官开始了紧急审讯，但是最终的结果是克理无罪施放，于是克理带着心爱的姑娘一路去度蜜月了(“Oklahoma!”-- “俄克拉荷马！”)。

第一幕
　　二十世纪初，印第安人曾居住过的美国西部，牛仔和农民为争夺土地和水源矛盾频频。
　　爱勒姑姑(Aunt Eller)在自己房子外面搅拌奶油，年轻的牛仔克理(Curly)唱着歌走了过来(“Oh，What a Beautiful Morning” -- “哦，多美的早晨”)。克理是来邀请爱勒姑姑的侄女，劳瑞(Laurey)，去参加今晚的舞会的。劳瑞接待了克里，但是她对他的态度不甚热情，克理为了让她高兴，给她讲述了今晚他要驾驶的马车(“Surreywith the Fringe on Top”-- “带流苏的四轮马车”)。但是，最后他还是坦白了带流苏的四轮马车只是他自己的想象，惹得劳瑞更加生气。这时，维尔·帕克(WillParker)来了，他给他们讲了自己最近在堪萨斯城的经历(“Kansas City” -- “堪萨斯城”)。他在套小牛比赛上赢了五十块钱，对于他，这五十块钱可以说相当重要。他想娶爱多·安妮(AdoAnnie)，但是他的父亲，安德鲁·卡恩斯(Andrew Carnes)是当地的法官，不同意这门婚事，除非他有足够的能力攒五十块钱。
　　虽然对克里不理不睬，其实劳瑞真心喜欢的还是克理。为了让克理嫉妒，她决定和雇工查德(Jud)一起去舞会。当她听说克理要和别的姑娘去舞会的时候，她的反应只是淡淡的(“Manya New Day” -- “新的日子还多”)。这时，爱多·安妮公布了她的舞伴，原来是波斯小贩阿里·哈克姆(AliHakim)，她还说，她实在不能拒绝任何一个男人(“I Can't Say No” -- “我不会说不”)。阿里和爱多·安妮调笑被她的父亲看到，气愤的法官逼阿里娶他的女儿。维尔则把五十块钱全花在买给爱多·安妮的礼物上。
　　当克理和劳瑞再次见面，他们决定还是一道去参加舞会。但是他们又不想让邻居们知道他们真正的动机(“People Will Say We're in Love” -- “人们会以为我们坠入爱河”)。但是，接下来头疼的问题就是要告诉查德这个消息。克理找到查德的小屋，那其实是做熏肉的薰制室，又暗又破。克理先是告诉查德，虽然大家对他好像不友好，其实他们都觉得他不错，如果他死的话，会有好多人参加他的葬礼，而且会大哭一场的(“PoreJud!” -- “可怜的查德！”)。接着他就告诉查德劳瑞要和他一起去舞会。他走了之后，查德一个人在房间里难过(“Lonely Room” -- “孤独的房间”)。
　　劳瑞的梦境转化成一段场面浩大的舞蹈。她梦见嫁给了克理，但是他们的快乐被查德打断了，他痛打了克理，然后逼迫劳瑞跟他远走高飞。查德的到来惊醒了她的恶梦，他来是要求劳瑞和他一起去舞会的。接着，克理也来到劳瑞家里要求同样的事情。劳瑞害怕梦中的事情是未来的预告，她决定和查德一起去。而克理则剩在一边，大惑不解。
第二幕
　　当晚的舞会，果然十分欢快有趣，牛仔和农夫们为他们之间争吵开着玩笑(“TheFarmer and the Cowman” -- “农夫和牧牛人”)。接下来的活动是拍卖女孩子制作的食品盒，男人们纷纷掏钱，要购买他们喜欢的女孩子制作的盒子。劳瑞的盒子立刻成了克理和查德争夺的对象。克理最后卖掉了全部家当，以.31的高价买下了食品盒。与此同时，阿里用五十块钱买下了维尔的所有礼物，原来阿里并不想娶爱多，他更想帮维尔如愿以偿。于是维尔和爱多兴致勃勃地谈起他们未来的生活(“All or Nothing” -- “孤注一掷”)。
　　三个月后，克理和劳瑞的婚礼即将举行。这时候，喝醉了得查德突然在婚礼上出现了，他用刀威胁克理，两人扭打起来，之中，查德摔在刀刃上，死了。爱多的父亲，卡恩斯法官开始了紧急审讯，但是最终的结果是克理无罪施放，于是克理带着心爱的姑娘一路去度蜜月了(“Oklahoma!”-- “俄克拉荷马！”)。

第一幕
　　二十世纪初，印第安人曾居住过的美国西部，牛仔和农民为争夺土地和水源矛盾频频。
　　爱勒姑姑(Aunt Eller)在自己房子外面搅拌奶油，年轻的牛仔克理(Curly)唱着歌走了过来(“Oh，What a Beautiful Morning” -- “哦，多美的早晨”)。克理是来邀请爱勒姑姑的侄女，劳瑞(Laurey)，去参加今晚的舞会的。劳瑞接待了克里，但是她对他的态度不甚热情，克理为了让她高兴，给她讲述了今晚他要驾驶的马车(“Surreywith the Fringe on Top”-- “带流苏的四轮马车”)。但是，最后他还是坦白了带流苏的四轮马车只是他自己的想象，惹得劳瑞更加生气。这时，维尔·帕克(WillParker)来了，他给他们讲了自己最近在堪萨斯城的经历(“Kansas City” -- “堪萨斯城”)。他在套小牛比赛上赢了五十块钱，对于他，这五十块钱可以说相当重要。他想娶爱多·安妮(AdoAnnie)，但是他的父亲，安德鲁·卡恩斯(Andrew Carnes)是当地的法官，不同意这门婚事，除非他有足够的能力攒五十块钱。
　　虽然对克里不理不睬，其实劳瑞真心喜欢的还是克理。为了让克理嫉妒，她决定和雇工查德(Jud)一起去舞会。当她听说克理要和别的姑娘去舞会的时候，她的反应只是淡淡的(“Manya New Day” -- “新的日子还多”)。这时，爱多·安妮公布了她的舞伴，原来是波斯小贩阿里·哈克姆(AliHakim)，她还说，她实在不能拒绝任何一个男人(“I Can't Say No” -- “我不会说不”)。阿里和爱多·安妮调笑被她的父亲看到，气愤的法官逼阿里娶他的女儿。维尔则把五十块钱全花在买给爱多·安妮的礼物上。
　　当克理和劳瑞再次见面，他们决定还是一道去参加舞会。但是他们又不想让邻居们知道他们真正的动机(“People Will Say We're in Love” -- “人们会以为我们坠入爱河”)。但是，接下来头疼的问题就是要告诉查德这个消息。克理找到查德的小屋，那其实是做熏肉的薰制室，又暗又破。克理先是告诉查德，虽然大家对他好像不友好，其实他们都觉得他不错，如果他死的话，会有好多人参加他的葬礼，而且会大哭一场的(“PoreJud!” -- “可怜的查德！”)。接着他就告诉查德劳瑞要和他一起去舞会。他走了之后，查德一个人在房间里难过(“Lonely Room” -- “孤独的房间”)。
　　劳瑞的梦境转化成一段场面浩大的舞蹈。她梦见嫁给了克理，但是他们的快乐被查德打断了，他痛打了克理，然后逼迫劳瑞跟他远走高飞。查德的到来惊醒了她的恶梦，他来是要求劳瑞和他一起去舞会的。接着，克理也来到劳瑞家里要求同样的事情。劳瑞害怕梦中的事情是未来的预告，她决定和查德一起去。而克理则剩在一边，大惑不解。
第二幕
　　当晚的舞会，果然十分欢快有趣，牛仔和农夫们为他们之间争吵开着玩笑(“TheFarmer and the Cowman” -- “农夫和牧牛人”)。接下来的活动是拍卖女孩子制作的食品盒，男人们纷纷掏钱，要购买他们喜欢的女孩子制作的盒子。劳瑞的盒子立刻成了克理和查德争夺的对象。克理最后卖掉了全部家当，以.31的高价买下了食品盒。与此同时，阿里用五十块钱买下了维尔的所有礼物，原来阿里并不想娶爱多，他更想帮维尔如愿以偿。于是维尔和爱多兴致勃勃地谈起他们未来的生活(“All or Nothing” -- “孤注一掷”)。
　　三个月后，克理和劳瑞的婚礼即将举行。这时候，喝醉了得查德突然在婚礼上出现了，他用刀威胁克理，两人扭打起来，之中，查德摔在刀刃上，死了。爱多的父亲，卡恩斯法官开始了紧急审讯，但是最终的结果是克理无罪施放，于是克理带着心爱的姑娘一路去度蜜月了(“Oklahoma!”-- “俄克拉荷马！”)。

Place: Catfish Row, a fictitious large black tenement based on Cabbage Row, on the waterfront of Charleston, South Carolina.
Time: The early 1920s.
Act 1
Scene 1: Catfish Row, a summer evening
The opera begins with a short introduction which segues into an evening in Catfish Row. Jasbo Brown entertains the community with his piano playing. Clara, a young mother, sings a lullaby to her baby ("Summertime") as the working men prepare for a game of craps ("Roll them Bones"). One of the players, Robbins, scorns his wife Serena's demands that he not play, retorting that on a Saturday night, a man has the right to play. Clara's husband, the fisherman Jake, tries his own lullaby ("A Woman is a Sometime Thing") with little effect. Little by little, other characters in the opera enter Catfish Row, among them Mingo, another fisherman, and Jim, a cotton-hauling stevedore who, tired of his job, decides to give it up and join Jake and the other fishermen. Porgy, a disabled beggar, enters on his goat cart to organize the game. Peter, an elderly "honey man" [honey vendor] returns, singing his vendor's call. Crown, a strong and brutal stevedore, storms in with his woman, Bess, and buys cheap whiskey and some "Happy Dust" off the local dope peddler, Sportin' Life. Bess is shunned by the women of the community, especially the pious Serena and the matriarchal cookshop owner Maria, but Porgy softly defends her. The game begins. One by one, the players get crapped out, leaving only Robbins and Crown, who has become extremely drunk. When Robbins wins, Crown attempts to prevent him from taking his winnings. A brawl ensues, which ends when Crown stabs Robbins with Jim's cotton hook, killing him. Crown runs, telling Bess to fend for herself but that he will be back for her when the heat dies down. Sportin' Life gives her a dose of happy dust and offers to take her with him when he goes to New York, but she rejects him. He flees, and Bess begins to pound on doors, but is rejected by all of the residents of Catfish Row, with the exception of Porgy, who lets her in.
Scene 2: Serena's Room, the following night
The mourners sing a spiritual to Robbins ("Gone, Gone, Gone"). To raise money for his burial, a saucer is placed on his chest for the mourners' donations ("Overflow"). Bess enters with Porgy and attempts to donate to the burial fund, but Serena rejects her money until Bess explains that she is now living with Porgy. A white detective enters and coldly tells Serena that she must bury her husband the next day, or his body will be given to medical students (for dissection). He suddenly accuses Peter of Robbins's murder. Peter denies his guilt and says Crown was the murderer. The Detective orders Peter to be arrested as a material witness, whom he will force to testify against Crown. Serena laments her loss in "My Man's Gone Now". The undertaker enters. The saucer holds only fifteen dollars of the needed twenty-five, but he agrees to bury Robbins as long as Serena promises to pay him back. Bess, who has been sitting in silence slightly apart from the rest of those gathered, suddenly begins to sing a gospel song and the chorus joyfully join in, welcoming her into the community. ("Oh, the Train is at de Station")
Act 2
Scene 1: Catfish Row, a month later, in the morning
Jake and the other fishermen prepare for work ("It take a long pull to get there"). Clara asks Jake not to go because it is time for the annual storms, but he tells her that they desperately need the money. This causes Porgy to sing from his window about his new, happy-go-lucky outlook on life. ("I got plenty o' nuttin"). Sportin' Life waltzes around selling "happy dust", but soon incurs the wrath of Maria, who threatens him. ("I hates yo' struttin' style"). A fraudulent lawyer, Frazier, arrives and farcically divorces Bess from Crown. When he discovers Bess and Crown were not married, he raises his price from a dollar to a dollar and a half. Archdale, a white lawyer, enters and informs Porgy that Peter will soon be released. The bad omen of a buzzard flies over Catfish Row and Porgy demands that it leave now that he finally has found happiness. ("Buzzard keep on flyin' over".)
As the rest of Catfish Row prepares for the church picnic on nearby Kittiwah Island, Sportin' Life again offers to take Bess to New York with him; she refuses. He attempts to give her some "happy dust" despite her claims that she's given up drugs, but Porgy grabs his arm and scares him off. Sportin' Life leaves, reminding Bess as he goes that her men friends come and go, but he will be there all along. Bess and Porgy are now left alone, and express their love for each other ("Bess, You Is My Woman Now"). The chorus re-enters in high spirits as they prepare to leave for the picnic ("Oh, I can't sit down"). Bess is invited to the picnic by Maria, but she demurs as Porgy cannot come (due to his disability, he cannot get on the boat), but Maria insists. Bess leaves Porgy behind as they go off to the picnic. Porgy watches the boat leave ("I got plenty o' nuttin" reprise).
Scene 2: Kittiwah Island, that evening
The chorus enjoys themselves at the picnic ("I ain't got no shame"). Sportin' Life presents the chorus his cynical views on the Bible ("It Ain't Necessarily So"), causing Serena to chastise them ("Shame on all you sinners!"). Everyone gets ready to leave. As Bess, who has lagged behind, tries to follow them, Crown emerges from the bushes. He reminds her that Porgy is "temporary" and laughs off her claims that she has been living decently now. Bess wants to leave Crown forever and attempts to make him forget about her ("Oh, what you want wid Bess?") but Crown refuses to give her up. He grabs her and will not let her go to the boat, which leaves without her, and then forcefully kisses her. He laughs at his conquest as her resistance begins to fail, and commands her to get into the woods, where his intentions are only too clear.
Scene 3: Catfish Row, a week later, just before dawn
A week later, Jake leaves to go fishing with his crew, one of whom observes that it looks as if a storm is coming in. Peter, still unsure of his crime, returns from prison. Meanwhile, Bess is lying in Porgy's room delirious with fever, which she has had ever since returning from Kittiwah Island. Serena prays to remove Bess's affliction ("Oh, Doctor Jesus"), and promises Porgy that Bess will be well by five o'clock. As the day passes, a strawberry woman, Peter (the Honey Man) and a crab man each pass by with their wares ("Vendors' Trio"). As the clock chimes five, Bess recovers from her fever. Porgy tells Bess that he knows she has been with Crown, and she admits that Crown has promised to return for her. Porgy tells her she is free to go if she wants to, and she tells him that although she wants to stay, she is afraid of Crown's hold on her. Porgy asks her what would happen if there was no Crown, and Bess tells Porgy she loves him and begs him to protect her. Porgy promises that she will never have to be afraid again ("I Loves You, Porgy").
Clara watches the water, fearful for Jake. Maria tries to allay her fears, but suddenly the hurricane bell begins to ring.
Scene 4: Serena's Room, dawn of the next day
The residents of Catfish Row are all gathered in Serena's room for shelter from the hurricane. They drown out the sound of the storm with prayers and hymns ("Oh, Doctor Jesus") while Sportin' Life mocks their assumption that the storm is a signal of Judgment Day. Clara desperately sings her lullaby ("Summertime" [reprise]). A knock is heard at the door, and the chorus believes it to be Death ("Oh there's somebody knocking at the door"). Crown enters dramatically, having swum from Kittiwah Island, seeking Bess. He shows no fear of God, claiming that after the long struggle from Kittiwah, God and he are friends. The chorus tries to drown out his blaspheming with more prayer, and he taunts them by singing a vulgar song. ("A red-headed woman"). Suddenly, Clara sees Jake's boat float past the window, upside-down, and she runs out to try to save him, handing her baby to Bess. Bess asks that one of the men go out with her, and Crown taunts Porgy, who cannot go. Crown goes himself, yelling out as he leaves "Alright, Big Friend! We're on for another Bout!" The chorus continue to pray as the storm rises.
Act 3
Scene 1: Catfish Row, the next night
A group of women mourn Clara, Jake, and all of those who have been killed in the storm ("Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted"). When they begin to mourn for Crown as well, Sportin' Life laughs at them and is told off by Maria. He insinuates that Crown may not be dead, and observes that when a woman has a man, maybe she's got him for keeps, but if she has two men, then it's highly likely she'll end up with none. Bess is heard singing Clara's lullaby to her baby, whom she is now taking care of. ("Summertime" [reprise]). Once Catfish Row is dark, Crown stealthily enters to claim Bess, but is confronted by Porgy. A fight ensues that ends when Porgy kills Crown. Porgy exclaims to Bess, "You've got a man now. You've got Porgy!"
Scene 2: Catfish Row, the next afternoon
The detective enters and talks with Serena and her friends about the murders of Crown and Robbins. They deny knowledge of Crown's murder, frustrating the detective. Needing a witness for the coroner's inquest, he next questions an apprehensive Porgy. Once Porgy admits to knowing Crown, he is ordered to come and identify Crown's body. Sportin' Life tells Porgy that corpses bleed in the presence of their murderers, and the detective will use this to hang Porgy. Porgy refuses to identify the body, but is dragged off anyway. Bess is distraught, and Sportin' Life puts his plan into action. He tells her that Porgy will be locked up for a long time, and points out that he is the only one still here. He offers her happy dust, and though she refuses, he forces it on her. After she takes a whiff, he paints a seductive picture of her life with him in New York ("There's a boat dat's leavin' soon for New York"). She regains her strength and rushes inside, slamming the door on his face, but he leaves a packet of happy dust on her doorstep, and settles down to wait.
Scene 3: Catfish Row, a week later
On a beautiful morning, Porgy is released from jail, where he has been arrested for contempt of court after refusing to look at Crown's body. He returns to Catfish Row much richer after playing craps with his cellmates. He gives gifts to the residents, and pulls out a beautiful red dress for Bess. He does not understand why everyone seems so uneasy at his return. He sees Clara's baby is now with Serena and realizes something is wrong. He asks where Bess is. Maria and Serena tell him that Bess has run off with Sportin' Life to New York ("Oh Bess, Oh Where's my Bess?"). Porgy calls for his goat cart, and resolves to leave Catfish Row to find her. He prays for strength, and begins his journey. ("Oh, Lawd, I'm on my way")

Place: Catfish Row, a fictitious large black tenement based on Cabbage Row, on the waterfront of Charleston, South Carolina.
Time: The early 1920s.
Act 1
Scene 1: Catfish Row, a summer evening
The opera begins with a short introduction which segues into an evening in Catfish Row. Jasbo Brown entertains the community with his piano playing. Clara, a young mother, sings a lullaby to her baby ("Summertime") as the working men prepare for a game of craps ("Roll them Bones"). One of the players, Robbins, scorns his wife Serena's demands that he not play, retorting that on a Saturday night, a man has the right to play. Clara's husband, the fisherman Jake, tries his own lullaby ("A Woman is a Sometime Thing") with little effect. Little by little, other characters in the opera enter Catfish Row, among them Mingo, another fisherman, and Jim, a cotton-hauling stevedore who, tired of his job, decides to give it up and join Jake and the other fishermen. Porgy, a disabled beggar, enters on his goat cart to organize the game. Peter, an elderly "honey man" [honey vendor] returns, singing his vendor's call. Crown, a strong and brutal stevedore, storms in with his woman, Bess, and buys cheap whiskey and some "Happy Dust" off the local dope peddler, Sportin' Life. Bess is shunned by the women of the community, especially the pious Serena and the matriarchal cookshop owner Maria, but Porgy softly defends her. The game begins. One by one, the players get crapped out, leaving only Robbins and Crown, who has become extremely drunk. When Robbins wins, Crown attempts to prevent him from taking his winnings. A brawl ensues, which ends when Crown stabs Robbins with Jim's cotton hook, killing him. Crown runs, telling Bess to fend for herself but that he will be back for her when the heat dies down. Sportin' Life gives her a dose of happy dust and offers to take her with him when he goes to New York, but she rejects him. He flees, and Bess begins to pound on doors, but is rejected by all of the residents of Catfish Row, with the exception of Porgy, who lets her in.
Scene 2: Serena's Room, the following night
The mourners sing a spiritual to Robbins ("Gone, Gone, Gone"). To raise money for his burial, a saucer is placed on his chest for the mourners' donations ("Overflow"). Bess enters with Porgy and attempts to donate to the burial fund, but Serena rejects her money until Bess explains that she is now living with Porgy. A white detective enters and coldly tells Serena that she must bury her husband the next day, or his body will be given to medical students (for dissection). He suddenly accuses Peter of Robbins's murder. Peter denies his guilt and says Crown was the murderer. The Detective orders Peter to be arrested as a material witness, whom he will force to testify against Crown. Serena laments her loss in "My Man's Gone Now". The undertaker enters. The saucer holds only fifteen dollars of the needed twenty-five, but he agrees to bury Robbins as long as Serena promises to pay him back. Bess, who has been sitting in silence slightly apart from the rest of those gathered, suddenly begins to sing a gospel song and the chorus joyfully join in, welcoming her into the community. ("Oh, the Train is at de Station")
Act 2
Scene 1: Catfish Row, a month later, in the morning
Jake and the other fishermen prepare for work ("It take a long pull to get there"). Clara asks Jake not to go because it is time for the annual storms, but he tells her that they desperately need the money. This causes Porgy to sing from his window about his new, happy-go-lucky outlook on life. ("I got plenty o' nuttin"). Sportin' Life waltzes around selling "happy dust", but soon incurs the wrath of Maria, who threatens him. ("I hates yo' struttin' style"). A fraudulent lawyer, Frazier, arrives and farcically divorces Bess from Crown. When he discovers Bess and Crown were not married, he raises his price from a dollar to a dollar and a half. Archdale, a white lawyer, enters and informs Porgy that Peter will soon be released. The bad omen of a buzzard flies over Catfish Row and Porgy demands that it leave now that he finally has found happiness. ("Buzzard keep on flyin' over".)
As the rest of Catfish Row prepares for the church picnic on nearby Kittiwah Island, Sportin' Life again offers to take Bess to New York with him; she refuses. He attempts to give her some "happy dust" despite her claims that she's given up drugs, but Porgy grabs his arm and scares him off. Sportin' Life leaves, reminding Bess as he goes that her men friends come and go, but he will be there all along. Bess and Porgy are now left alone, and express their love for each other ("Bess, You Is My Woman Now"). The chorus re-enters in high spirits as they prepare to leave for the picnic ("Oh, I can't sit down"). Bess is invited to the picnic by Maria, but she demurs as Porgy cannot come (due to his disability, he cannot get on the boat), but Maria insists. Bess leaves Porgy behind as they go off to the picnic. Porgy watches the boat leave ("I got plenty o' nuttin" reprise).
Scene 2: Kittiwah Island, that evening
The chorus enjoys themselves at the picnic ("I ain't got no shame"). Sportin' Life presents the chorus his cynical views on the Bible ("It Ain't Necessarily So"), causing Serena to chastise them ("Shame on all you sinners!"). Everyone gets ready to leave. As Bess, who has lagged behind, tries to follow them, Crown emerges from the bushes. He reminds her that Porgy is "temporary" and laughs off her claims that she has been living decently now. Bess wants to leave Crown forever and attempts to make him forget about her ("Oh, what you want wid Bess?") but Crown refuses to give her up. He grabs her and will not let her go to the boat, which leaves without her, and then forcefully kisses her. He laughs at his conquest as her resistance begins to fail, and commands her to get into the woods, where his intentions are only too clear.
Scene 3: Catfish Row, a week later, just before dawn
A week later, Jake leaves to go fishing with his crew, one of whom observes that it looks as if a storm is coming in. Peter, still unsure of his crime, returns from prison. Meanwhile, Bess is lying in Porgy's room delirious with fever, which she has had ever since returning from Kittiwah Island. Serena prays to remove Bess's affliction ("Oh, Doctor Jesus"), and promises Porgy that Bess will be well by five o'clock. As the day passes, a strawberry woman, Peter (the Honey Man) and a crab man each pass by with their wares ("Vendors' Trio"). As the clock chimes five, Bess recovers from her fever. Porgy tells Bess that he knows she has been with Crown, and she admits that Crown has promised to return for her. Porgy tells her she is free to go if she wants to, and she tells him that although she wants to stay, she is afraid of Crown's hold on her. Porgy asks her what would happen if there was no Crown, and Bess tells Porgy she loves him and begs him to protect her. Porgy promises that she will never have to be afraid again ("I Loves You, Porgy").
Clara watches the water, fearful for Jake. Maria tries to allay her fears, but suddenly the hurricane bell begins to ring.
Scene 4: Serena's Room, dawn of the next day
The residents of Catfish Row are all gathered in Serena's room for shelter from the hurricane. They drown out the sound of the storm with prayers and hymns ("Oh, Doctor Jesus") while Sportin' Life mocks their assumption that the storm is a signal of Judgment Day. Clara desperately sings her lullaby ("Summertime" [reprise]). A knock is heard at the door, and the chorus believes it to be Death ("Oh there's somebody knocking at the door"). Crown enters dramatically, having swum from Kittiwah Island, seeking Bess. He shows no fear of God, claiming that after the long struggle from Kittiwah, God and he are friends. The chorus tries to drown out his blaspheming with more prayer, and he taunts them by singing a vulgar song. ("A red-headed woman"). Suddenly, Clara sees Jake's boat float past the window, upside-down, and she runs out to try to save him, handing her baby to Bess. Bess asks that one of the men go out with her, and Crown taunts Porgy, who cannot go. Crown goes himself, yelling out as he leaves "Alright, Big Friend! We're on for another Bout!" The chorus continue to pray as the storm rises.
Act 3
Scene 1: Catfish Row, the next night
A group of women mourn Clara, Jake, and all of those who have been killed in the storm ("Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted"). When they begin to mourn for Crown as well, Sportin' Life laughs at them and is told off by Maria. He insinuates that Crown may not be dead, and observes that when a woman has a man, maybe she's got him for keeps, but if she has two men, then it's highly likely she'll end up with none. Bess is heard singing Clara's lullaby to her baby, whom she is now taking care of. ("Summertime" [reprise]). Once Catfish Row is dark, Crown stealthily enters to claim Bess, but is confronted by Porgy. A fight ensues that ends when Porgy kills Crown. Porgy exclaims to Bess, "You've got a man now. You've got Porgy!"
Scene 2: Catfish Row, the next afternoon
The detective enters and talks with Serena and her friends about the murders of Crown and Robbins. They deny knowledge of Crown's murder, frustrating the detective. Needing a witness for the coroner's inquest, he next questions an apprehensive Porgy. Once Porgy admits to knowing Crown, he is ordered to come and identify Crown's body. Sportin' Life tells Porgy that corpses bleed in the presence of their murderers, and the detective will use this to hang Porgy. Porgy refuses to identify the body, but is dragged off anyway. Bess is distraught, and Sportin' Life puts his plan into action. He tells her that Porgy will be locked up for a long time, and points out that he is the only one still here. He offers her happy dust, and though she refuses, he forces it on her. After she takes a whiff, he paints a seductive picture of her life with him in New York ("There's a boat dat's leavin' soon for New York"). She regains her strength and rushes inside, slamming the door on his face, but he leaves a packet of happy dust on her doorstep, and settles down to wait.
Scene 3: Catfish Row, a week later
On a beautiful morning, Porgy is released from jail, where he has been arrested for contempt of court after refusing to look at Crown's body. He returns to Catfish Row much richer after playing craps with his cellmates. He gives gifts to the residents, and pulls out a beautiful red dress for Bess. He does not understand why everyone seems so uneasy at his return. He sees Clara's baby is now with Serena and realizes something is wrong. He asks where Bess is. Maria and Serena tell him that Bess has run off with Sportin' Life to New York ("Oh Bess, Oh Where's my Bess?"). Porgy calls for his goat cart, and resolves to leave Catfish Row to find her. He prays for strength, and begins his journey. ("Oh, Lawd, I'm on my way")