I’m a big fan of the Library of America so when I came across this copy of Kaufman & Co.: Broadway Comedies by George S. Kaufman at a Library Book Sale, I scooped it up immediately. I enjoyed The Royal Family–written with Edna Ferber–about an eccentric family. I also enjoyed Dinner at Eight–another play written with Edna Ferber–with its snarky humor. Animal Crackers is a classic. George S. Kaufman was a Broadway institution for decades writing brilliant plays. This volume of comedies includes Stage Door which is also an enjoyable movie from 1937 based on Kaufman and Ferber’s play starring Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, Gail Patrick, Constance Collier, Andrea Leeds, Samuel S. Hinds and Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, and Ann Miller. If you enjoy Broadway comic plays, this volume is pure gold! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
The Royal Family (with Edna Ferber)
Animal Crackers (with Morrie Ryskind)
June Moon (with Ring Lardner)
Once in a Lifetime (with Moss Hart)
Of Thee I Sing (with Morrie Ryskind & Ira Gershwin)
You Can’t Take It with You (with Moss Hart)
Dinner at Eight (with Edna Ferber)
Stage Door (with Edna Ferber)
The Man Who Came to Dinner (with Moss Hart)
Not forgotten by me! We’ve seen several of these on or off Broadway (THE ROYAL FAMILY twice) or on television (an entertaining version of the silly JUNE MOON, with Stephen Sondheim acting a small part, and very funny). In college, I read a ton of plays and some of these were among them.
Good choice.
Since I had a part in our college production of THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, and enjoyed the movie, it’s my favorite!
Bob, I saw a college production of THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER and enjoyed it. Like you, I enjoyed the movie version, too.
Jeff, I enjoyed JUNE MOON from 1974 on PBS. Like you, I took a course in DRAMA when I was at Marquette University and read a ton of plays.
Ring Lardner Sr. or Jr.? I’m not quite surprised he collaborated with Ferber, but I hadn’t been aware of that.
Todd, I’m pretty sure it’s Ring Lardner, Sr. since the play is based on Lardner’s story “Some Like It Cold” from 1921. Ring Lardner, Jr. would have been six years old at the time of publishing.
Sounds likely! (But never assume…)