The Man Who Came to Dinner

The Man Who Came to Dinner, comedy in five acts written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart that debuted on October 16, 1939 at the Music Box Theatre in New York City.

Influence of Alexander Woollcott

Kaufman and Hart intended the character of Sheridan Whiteside to be a clear lampoon of infamous theatre critic Alexander Woollcott, who was known to exhibit the same demeanor and eccentricities as Whiteside. Kaufman had invited Woollcott to spend the weekend at his suburban estate, and upon leaving, Woollcott allegedly remarked, "This is to certify that I had one of the most unpleasant times I ever spent." Kaufman shared similar sentiments, and shared them with Moss Hart, his collaborator on a number of other shows. Out of this, the idea for The Man Who Came to Dinner was born.

Related Topics:
Kaufman - Hart - Lampoon - Alexander Woollcott

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