This witty and acerbic textual content for a 1939 Broadway comedy facilities round Sheridan Whiteside, a famously caustic radio character and critic, who slips on ice exterior the house of a distinguished Ohio household, the Stanleys. Confined to their house whereas recovering, Whiteside inserts himself into their lives, turning their world the wrong way up along with his demanding character and eccentric movie star friends. The play satirizes movie star tradition and middle-class aspirations.
Kaufman and Hart’s comedic masterpiece supplies a pointy critique of social mores and the cult of character. The play’s enduring recognition stems from its intelligent dialogue, farcical conditions, and memorable characters, together with the inspiration for Whiteside, the real-life Alexander Woollcott. It was tailored right into a profitable movie in 1942, solidifying its place in American widespread tradition. Its themes of societal expectations and the disruption brought on by an outsider proceed to resonate with audiences in the present day.