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Box And Cox
""Box and Cox"" is a short comedic play written by John Maddison Morton Esquire. The story follows two men, Mr. Box and Mr. Cox, who unknowingly rent the same room from the same landlord. The two men work opposite shifts, with Box working during the day and Cox working at night. They never meet each other until one day, they both come home early and discover the situation. The landlord tries to keep them from discovering each other, but eventually, they do and hilarity ensues. The play is a classic example of farce and has been adapted into various forms, including an opera and a musical. This edition of the book includes the full text of the play and an introduction from the editor.It is not the case only with the coals, Mrs. Bouncer, but I've lately observed a gradual and steady increase of evaporation among my candles, wood, sugar and lucifer matches.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1846
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 3, 2018
If Huis Clos had been written by John Maddison Morton
[A furnished room with no windows. Enter BOX and COX, led by the agreeably buxom MRS BOUNCER]
MRS BOUNCER: Welcome to Hell, gentlemen! I trust you will be comfortable.
[BOX and COX look around wildly]
BOX: Where are the devils?
COX: Yes, where the devil are they?
MRS BOUNCER: Now, now, everyone asks me that! Please set your fears at rest.
[BOX and COX are still looking in all directions]
BOX: So there's no rack?
COX: No thumbscrews?
MRS BOUNCER: Of course not. The only torture you will be subjected to is each other's unending company. L'enfer, c'est-
BOX: Unfair? Unfair? It certainly is unfair to be eternally damned.
COX: That it is. Damned unfair.
MRS BOUNCER: No crimes on your consciences then?
BOX: Absolutely not. I was in no way responsible for the death of his intended.
COX: My intended? You mean your intended.
BOX: You are engaged to her.
COX: But you proposed first.
[They are about to come to blows, but MRS BOUNCER intervenes]
MRS BOUNCER: Perhaps you are both to blame?
[The two men reconsider]
BOX: Now that I think of it, the world's better off without her.
COX: She filled a much needed gap.
BOX: You know, I'm starting to appreciate you more.
COX: You're actually quite a decent fellow.
[Enter the MESSENGER]
MESSENGER: It was all a mistake. You're both being reassigned to Heaven.
BOX: But I don't want to leave. I find I like Hell.
COX: Hell of a place. And we can't abandon our landlady, can we?
MRS BOUNCER [adjusting her bosom in a meaningful fashion] I'll make up your beds, good sirs.
CURTAIN
[A furnished room with no windows. Enter BOX and COX, led by the agreeably buxom MRS BOUNCER]
MRS BOUNCER: Welcome to Hell, gentlemen! I trust you will be comfortable.
[BOX and COX look around wildly]
BOX: Where are the devils?
COX: Yes, where the devil are they?
MRS BOUNCER: Now, now, everyone asks me that! Please set your fears at rest.
[BOX and COX are still looking in all directions]
BOX: So there's no rack?
COX: No thumbscrews?
MRS BOUNCER: Of course not. The only torture you will be subjected to is each other's unending company. L'enfer, c'est-
BOX: Unfair? Unfair? It certainly is unfair to be eternally damned.
COX: That it is. Damned unfair.
MRS BOUNCER: No crimes on your consciences then?
BOX: Absolutely not. I was in no way responsible for the death of his intended.
COX: My intended? You mean your intended.
BOX: You are engaged to her.
COX: But you proposed first.
[They are about to come to blows, but MRS BOUNCER intervenes]
MRS BOUNCER: Perhaps you are both to blame?
[The two men reconsider]
BOX: Now that I think of it, the world's better off without her.
COX: She filled a much needed gap.
BOX: You know, I'm starting to appreciate you more.
COX: You're actually quite a decent fellow.
[Enter the MESSENGER]
MESSENGER: It was all a mistake. You're both being reassigned to Heaven.
BOX: But I don't want to leave. I find I like Hell.
COX: Hell of a place. And we can't abandon our landlady, can we?
MRS BOUNCER [adjusting her bosom in a meaningful fashion] I'll make up your beds, good sirs.
CURTAIN
August 19, 2016
A nice, light, and humorous read easily read in one sitting (I actually read it in the bath!). Entertaining and enjoyable, although not entirely realistic, and based on an ingenious idea. Two men unwittingly rent the same room when their landlady sees an opportunity to get double the rent, as one man works during the night and the other during the day.
November 15, 2017
A consummate, witty, if juvenile early farce. All the notes are here. You'll find a model here that will get thrown out the window when Ionesco and Beckett get a hold of it later.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews