In the following excerpt, Mason shows the collaboration between Moss Hart and George Kaufman and the styles that each employed to the making of "Once in a Lifetime."

Undoubtedly, Hart was fortunate in that his "formula" had a parallel in the work of George S. Kaufman, with whom he entered into a most fruitful collaboration after the success of Once in a Lifetime. In between, however, he had tested this formula as it buttresses many a musical book or revue sketch. Later, he was less fortunate in seeing fit to extend this formula into some serious works which reflect an ambition for his craft as do his comedies for his career.

Throughout this study distinctions between drama (content) and theatre (drama on stage) are continually made and must be continually understood. Such a distinction is inevitable in considering comedy which gains so much from performance.

Further, comedy...