2008 Woodie Awards
USA Theatre presents 'The Butter and Egg Man'
Isenburg, Amber-Marie
Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: Fine Arts
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USA's drama students will start off this season with George S. Kaufman's "Butter and Egg Man." This exciting play takes place during the flu-epidemics of the 1920s. The plot centers around a young hotel clerk, by the name of Peter Jones, who comes to New York City with dreams of opening its very own hotel. In order to come up with the money to start his hotel, he has brought with him $20,000 and plans to produce a Broadway play.
Jones invests his money into "Her Lesson," an almost guaranteed flop. Needless to say, the play flops. Jones takes this opportunity to offer the producers an offer they cannot refuse. He wants to take the flop out of their hands and give it another shot. Jones managers to transform the play and becomes the king of Broadway.
But, what is a "Butter and Egg Man?" According to http://www..miskatnoic.org, the term originated when a young fellow walked into a bar one night, disbursed $50 to all the dancers and bought a round for the house. He surprisingly did not make a fuss when he received the bill. The owner of the bar was so astonished that she felt this man deserved a proper introduction. "Folks, here lives a live one, a buyer, a good guy, a sport of the old school, encourage him." He would not give his name when asked, only his profession: dairyman. The owner then shouted, "He's a big butter and egg man." The man frequented the bar and continued to ring up large bills with no complaints. The phrase quickly spread through New York City. Any man who was free with his money was considered a "butter and egg man."
"The Butter and Egg Man's" director, Alan Gardner, states that this play will be "highly entertaining … vibrant and energetic." He believes that this play gives you a sort of behind-the-scenes look on show business. In the 1920's, everyone wanted to be in show business. And after seeing "Butter and Egg Man," it is easy to see why. "It was exciting and glamorous, just the way so many people look at being in the movies today." Along with the glamour and fame, Gardner tells us that there is also a moral to the story: Be careful what you wish for, and don't get so caught up in the moment.
"Perhaps this story never happened, or perhaps this story happens every day. It was both the intricate details that Kaufman identified in his staging notes and my fascination with the 1925 audiences' experience that motivated me to challenge the production team to find a way to transport us back to an authentic 1925," says Gardner.
So, put on your Oxford bags, and bob your hair. Prepare yourselves for a flashback into the roaring twenties with "The Butter and Egg Man"
Jones invests his money into "Her Lesson," an almost guaranteed flop. Needless to say, the play flops. Jones takes this opportunity to offer the producers an offer they cannot refuse. He wants to take the flop out of their hands and give it another shot. Jones managers to transform the play and becomes the king of Broadway.
But, what is a "Butter and Egg Man?" According to http://www..miskatnoic.org, the term originated when a young fellow walked into a bar one night, disbursed $50 to all the dancers and bought a round for the house. He surprisingly did not make a fuss when he received the bill. The owner of the bar was so astonished that she felt this man deserved a proper introduction. "Folks, here lives a live one, a buyer, a good guy, a sport of the old school, encourage him." He would not give his name when asked, only his profession: dairyman. The owner then shouted, "He's a big butter and egg man." The man frequented the bar and continued to ring up large bills with no complaints. The phrase quickly spread through New York City. Any man who was free with his money was considered a "butter and egg man."
"The Butter and Egg Man's" director, Alan Gardner, states that this play will be "highly entertaining … vibrant and energetic." He believes that this play gives you a sort of behind-the-scenes look on show business. In the 1920's, everyone wanted to be in show business. And after seeing "Butter and Egg Man," it is easy to see why. "It was exciting and glamorous, just the way so many people look at being in the movies today." Along with the glamour and fame, Gardner tells us that there is also a moral to the story: Be careful what you wish for, and don't get so caught up in the moment.
"Perhaps this story never happened, or perhaps this story happens every day. It was both the intricate details that Kaufman identified in his staging notes and my fascination with the 1925 audiences' experience that motivated me to challenge the production team to find a way to transport us back to an authentic 1925," says Gardner.
So, put on your Oxford bags, and bob your hair. Prepare yourselves for a flashback into the roaring twenties with "The Butter and Egg Man"
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