Newton Fuller has brought his wife, Annabelle, and daughter, Madge, to see the new house he’s bought for them. A home of their own, where they can experience the exhilaration of life in the country. It’s a story older than Moses. Newton has neglected to tell his wife he’s already purchased the place. The flaws he sees as trivial, Annabelle would find highly objectionable. And who could blame her? We can’t help but appreciate Newton’s exuberance and optimism, but the place is falling apart. A wall is missing in the kitchen, there’s no water, the furniture is collapsing, and there’s a cow meandering. Clearly Newton’s enthusiasm blinded him when he signed the deed, and Annabelle is none too pleased.
Little by little, and bit by bit, the house gets more core comfy, attractive and functional. But our intrepid homesteaders aren’t out of the woods. Mr. Kimber, the caretaker, is constantly informing Newton of more purchases he must make to keep up the property (manure, gravel, cattle feed,…) and money is quickly running low. Madge (a teenager) is having an affair with the neighbor’s husband. Soon their crotchety, persnickety Uncle Stanley will be staying and the cook and housekeeper must feel like they’ve joined the staff of the Titanic.
George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart were masters at writing stage comedies that were so sharp, with clever, contrapuntal banter, that they hold up to this day. Like The Man Who Came to Dinner, Hart and Kaufman concocted a premise for George Washington Slept Here that cannot miss. As trials and travails fall upon the Newtons, the dialogue takes note with such acrid understatement, that we are helplessly, genuinely tickled. Like Job, we’ve all been there. We’ve all endured a run of bad luck, so we’re laughing with the Newtons. Under the pitch perfect guidance of B. J. Cleveland, the cast have mastered Kaufman and Hart’s tone, timing and pervasive sense of irony. George Washington Slept Here is a distinct, capacious pleasure, just the tonic for these days of oppressive heat, dejection and upheaval. Kaufman and Hart, and the grand folks at The Dupree Theatre have given us the gift of laughing at ourselves. What could be better?
Dupree Theatre presents: George Washington Slept Here, playing July 20th-August 4th, 2018. Dupree Theatre. Irving Arts Center. 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving, Texas, 75062. (972) 594-6104. info@irvingtheatre.org