George Washington Slept Here
(1940)
By George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
Original cast: 9 men, 8 women
Revised version: 6 men (including one 12-year-old boy); 5 women; One set interior
In the late 1930s, both Kaufman and Hart had bought country estates in Bucks County, PA. The arduous task of making a summer home had its humorous side, and so they wrote the granddaddy of all “Green Acres” scenarios—anyone who has ever had to deal with a contractor or mosquitoes or a renovation will sympathize immediately with the Fuller family and their plight.
For performance rights, contact: Dramatists
A newly revised version of this comedy is available; all the laughs, but much easier to produce. For script, contact: laurence.maslon@nyu.edu
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The Plot
Newton Fuller fulfills a lifetime ambition: to own his very own colonial farmhouse—a home in the country. He drags his wife, Annabelle, and their daughter, Madge, out to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to set up homesteading in a wreck of a house—broken windows, falling plaster, and a cow in the kitchen. But, Newton has faith—after all, George Washington slept there, so it’s even a part of history.
Life in the country, however, is no bed of roses; Annabelle finds country life impossible, the local caretaker is nowhere to be found, a mechanical drill pounds mercilessly for water, Madge is having a dalliance with an actor playing at the local summer stock theater—and to top it off, the local historian reveals that it was Benedict Arnold, not George Washington who has slept there!
However, Annabelle and Newton manage to make a beautiful country home and fall in love it. Complications ensue when they discover they have spent their last penny on the house and stand in danger of defaulting on their mortgage. Enter Newton’s Uncle Stanley, a rich old skinflint, who holds out the promise of a loan to save the house—or does he? Near catastrophe is averted at the last moment through a hilarious series of reversals and Newton turns into the country squire he always dreamed of becoming.
About the Play
In the late 1930s, both Kaufman and Hart had bought country estates in Bucks County, PA. The arduous task of making a summer home had its humorous side, and so they wrote the granddaddy of all “Green Acres” scenarios—anyone who has ever had to deal with a contractor or mosquitoes or a renovation will sympathize immediately with the Fullers and their plight.
A big success on Broadway and with summer stock audiences in the early 1940s (it was the most popular play on the straw hat circuit for many years), George Washington Slept Here was also turned into a popular 1942 film with Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan—although they switched roles from the original, and gave Benny the lines of the wisecracking Annabelle! One of the play’s challenges is the complete destruction of the house in Act Three; in a new revision of the play by Laurence Maslon, the house (and the comedy) remains intact—and six unnecessary small roles are eliminated.
Stage history
George Washington Slept Here opened at the Lyceum Theater on October 18, 1940. It ran 173 performances, but has never had a Broadway revival.
Other Plays in the Catalogue
George Washington Slept Here opened at the Lyceum Theater on October 18, 1940. It ran 173 performances, but has never had a Broadway revival.
The play opened at the Music Box Theater on September 29, 1934; it was largest non-musical play to run there (155 performances). With its nine separate scenes and cast of 91 actors, it was impractical to tour the play, either before or after its Broadway opening.
I'd Rather Be Right opened on November 2, 1937 at the Alvin Theater, where it ran 290 performances. Moviegoers may be familiar with the patter song "Off The Record," performed by James Cagney as Cohan in the film Yankee Doodle Dandy.
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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
