The Good Fellow
(1926)
By George S. Kaufman and Herman J. Mankiewicz
A farce about the small-town mania for joining fraternal organizations.
Manuscript only; contact: laurence.maslon@nyu.edu
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About the Play
Kaufman and Mankiewicz were colleagues at the New York Times Drama Desk in the 1920s (in fact, one of Mankiewicz’s reviews, written while on a bender, and Kaufman’s rewrite of it later figured prominently in a scene from the screenplay of Citizen Kane).
Here, they join up for their own stage comedy, a farce about the small-town mania for joining fraternal organizations. Our hero, Jim Helton, nearly bankrupts his entire family savings in order to host the national convention for his beloved Knights of Corsica. Common sense prevails at the very last minute.
Other Plays in the Catalogue
Throughout his career, Kaufman made a fine art out of the revue sketch, the most popular theatrical form on Broadway in the 1920s and early 1930s. Several of his sketches are absolute classics and they can be singly or as part of a larger evening.
The Channel Road (1929). Written by Alexander Woollcott and George S. Kaufman. Theatres: Plymouth Theatre (Oct 17, 1929 - Dec 1929).
Book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. Music by George Gershwin. Lyrics by Ira Gershwin. Cast size: 22 men, 17 women; doubling possible. Of Thee I Sing opened at the Music Box Theatre on December 26, 1931 and ran for 441 performances.
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Contact Us Today
Interested in bringing George S. Kaufman’s timeless plays to your stage?
Please refer to the contact information for each specific play on the various collection pages for direct amateur and professional licensing information.
Plays are represented by Concord Theatricals, Broadway Dramatic Licensing, and Music Theatre International respectively
If you are interested in first-class performance or film/television rights:
In the US, George S. Kaufman’s plays are represented by:
CPK Artists, LLC
In the UK, George S. Kaufman’s plays are represented by:
Alan Brodie Representation
For more information about George S. Kaufman or this website, contact:
Laurence Maslon
Literary Trustee, George S. Kaufman Estate




