“Box and Cox” reviewed by Frank Meccia

Chicago Pride Films & Plays has the great advantage of finding forgotten long lost plays from around the world. “BOX AND COX “is a one-act farce written by John Maddison Morton. The play was produced a one-act vaudeville “FRISETTE” produced in Paris in 1846. It was produced at the Lyceum Theatre which was built in 1834 and is still used today. I saw my first production of the Lion King there in 2001. A little trivia the phrase “Box and Cox” is in the Oxford English Dictionary defined as “an arrangement in which two persons take turns in sustaining a part, occupying a position, or the like”.

Using that definition, Pride Films & Plays, gave this 175-year-old play a new life. The story is about two men James Cox a printer played by John Marshall Jr. and John Cox a Hatter played by Eustace Williams live unknowing in the same one room flat both work 12 hour shifts-  one in the day and one at night, and they always meet in the stairwell of their building coming and going to work. Neither knows of the other’s using the same flat for their residence. The landlord Mrs. Bouncer played by Shalita Cake loves the fact she is getting double rent for a one room flat and cleans daily to make sure they never find out.
This 45 minute farce which at the time was a normal time for a vaudeville play is evenly paced , filmed to resemble an early talkie movie , using the stairwell and a door as the only prop works well. All the characters you can tell are enjoying this farce of a play.
Box and Cox is only playing twice, with the final performance on October 29th at 7pm. This is streamed through YouTube with a code that comes about 10 min before the play starts. Considering most smart TV’s get YouTube, you can enjoy this play on a large screen. Tickets can be purchased at PrideArts.Org.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Box and Cox”.