A Cup of Coffee (play)
Encyclopedia
A Cup of Coffee is a play
written by Preston Sturges
in 1931. It was first performed on March 25, 1988 by the Soho Repertory Theatre
at the Greenwich House Theatre in New York City
. The play had previously been adapted by Sturges for the film Christmas in July
in 1940.
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
written by Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges , originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated playwright, screenwriter and film director born in Chicago, Illinois...
in 1931. It was first performed on March 25, 1988 by the Soho Repertory Theatre
Soho Repertory Theatre
The Soho Repertory Theatre, also known as Soho Rep, is an Off-Broadway theater company with a 73-seat located at 46 Walker Street in the TriBeCa district of Manhattan, New York City...
at the Greenwich House Theatre in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The play had previously been adapted by Sturges for the film Christmas in July
Christmas in July (film)
Christmas in July is a 1940 screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges based on his 1931 play A Cup of Coffee. It was Sturges' second film as writer-director, after The Great McGinty, and stars Dick Powell and Ellen Drew....
in 1940.
Act I
The story takes place during a warm season in 1931 at the Baxter Coffee Warehouse in New York City. James Ogden MacDonald is a new salesman earning $25 a week. In order to win the $25,000 prize along with a 2-year sales contract to Maxford House Coffee, MacDonald submits a slogan to Maxford House's slogan contest. Just as he is being fired by J. Bloodgood Baxter because he had brought a phonograph to work, a letter arrives informing him that he has won the prize.Act II
The Baxters and Whortleberry discuss their plans for rehiring Jimmy while he and Tulip are out to lunch. Jimmy enters with the flash of photographers. J. Bloodgood Baxter convinces Jimmy to drop the 2-year sales contract to Maxford House in exchange for a promotion to sales promotion manager and a raise to $5,000 a year. Jimmy begins sharing some of his ideas with his bosses and they show their approval at his seemingly ridiculous ideas. When they all leave, Tulip stays behind with Jimmy. Jimmy proposes to Tulip and she accepts. Mr. Rasmussen from the Maxford House Company enters and Tulip gets ushered out. He tells Jimmy how, by having so many entrees, it is possible to make a little error, and that it was another by the same name who actually won.Act III
J. Bloodgood Baxter confronts Jimmy about signing the contract for sales promotion manager. Jimmy shows his discomfort, and finally lets it out that he didn't actually win the contest. The offer is retracted. Jimmy gives each of them a present he had bought when he thought he was rich. Tulip convinces Mr. Ephraim Baxter, the company founder, to exercise his power, and gets Jimmy the contract he was promised. Mr. Rasmussen enters again and declares that it actually was Jimmy who had won the Maxford House slogan contest.Characters
- Ephraim Baxter- The founder of the Firm.
- Oliver Baxter- His son.
- J. Bloodgood Baxter- His other son.
- Julius Snaith- His male nurse.
- Lomax Whortleberry- His bookkepper.
- Tulip Jones- His secretary.
- James MacDonald- His youngest salesman.
- Mr. Rasmussen, Sign Painter, Postman- From Maxford House.
- The Youth- From the lawyer's office.