Golden Boy

Golden Boy Comments

Odets' most successful theatrical performance

Golden Boy was written in 1937 by Clifford Odets. It was his most successful theatrical production and, unlike his earlier plays, Golden Boy concentrated on the characters' personal issues, as opposed to the social reform he had made famous through Waiting For Lefty and Awake and Sing!.

Background

*Golden Boy was written after a screenwriting job in Hollywood; it is with this action that he lets many of the actors that respected him because of his fearless approach to social/political playwriting down.

*Odets has been quoted as saying Golden Boy was written as a "deliberate hit." He did this to fund The Group Theatre, which--at this point--was losing a lot of money.

The Production

*Golden Boy ran from November 4, 1937 to June of 1938 at the Belasco Theatre; this was a total of 250 performances.

*Produced by The Group Theatre

*Directed by Harold Clurman (assisted by Sanford Meisner)

*Scenic Design by Mordecai Gorelik

Opening Night Cast

Luther Adler (as Joe Bonaparte)

Roman Bohnen (as Tom Moody)

Phoebe Brand (as Anna)

Harry Bratsburg (as Pepper White)

Morris Carnovsky (as Mr. Bonaparte)

Lee J. Cobb (as Mr. Carp)

Bert Conway (as Call Boy)

Charles Crisp (as Drake)

Howard Da Silva (as Lewis)

Frances Farmer (as Lorna Moon)

Jules Garfield (as Siggie)

Michael Gordon (as Mickey)

Elia Kazan (as Eddie Fuselli)

Robert Lewis (as Roxy Gottleib)

Charles Niemeyer (as Driscoll)

John O'Malley (as Frank Bonaparte)

Martin Ritt (as Sam)

Mladen Sekulovich (as Barker)

Art Smith (as Tokio)

Plot Summary

Joe Bonaparte (the protagonist) has a gift for the violin and a dreamer's passion for music. In the world of the play, people around him are quickly running out of money; many families in the area--including his own--are desolate. He is tempted to fight for money, as boxing is an easy way to pick up cash. The huge battle he has within himself is whether to follow his heart or follow his logic ... and possibly breaking his hand, which would ruin his dreams of being a violonist forever. His father wants him to pursue his musical talent, telling him to forget about money, as it is fleeting, but Joe does choose to be a boxer in the end.

He persuades a near-bankrupt manager Tom Moody to give him a chance and--inspite of his physicality--does the job right. He has second thoughts throughout the play, but they are quickly snubbed by Lorna, his love interest (as well as Moody's fiance).

A tough-as-nails gangster, Eddie Fuseli, wants to (and does) buy a piece of Joe; Despite Lorna's freshly born doubts, Joe continues to fight. He breaks his hand, kills a boxing fighter, and--in his last ditch effort to be free from his worldly greed and regret--dies in a car wreck with Lorna. The two of them were to run away and be happy together; Joe's father hears of the tragedy over the phone and goes to collect his boy.

Themes

*Language - Odets commonly uses the dialects of the workingman

*Foreshadowing - characters throughout the play make references to people dying, which gives the reader some indirect knowledge or inclination towards Lorna and Joe's ultimate demise

*Shame - Many of the characters express their grief for their choices throughout the play, namely Joe and his incorrect choice in life and in his profession

*Violence - There is much fighting and blood all throughout the play

*Arts and Materialism

Sources

Golden Boy by Clifford Odets

www.ibdb.com