Golden Boy (play)
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Golden Boy is a drama by
Plot
Joe Bonaparte, a young
Six months later, Joe's career continues to advance. Infamous gangster Eddie Fuseli approaches Moody and Roxy, demanding to be signed on as a partner, which Joe agrees to. Moody, believing Joe to be distracted by his fame, convinces his girlfriend Lorna to talk to Joe. She does so, and the pair profess their love to each other. Despite this, Lorna cannot bring herself to break off her relationship with Moody. Feeling that he has lost Lorna as well as his father's respect, Joe no longer holds back in the ring. In his next match, Joe defeats his opponent, but breaks a hand, thereby ruining any future career he may have had as a violinist.
Six months later, Joe has become a top-ranked prizefighter. He has become disillusioned with his fame and his managers, and has become more vicious in the ring. After learning Lorna is engaged to Moody, Joe confronts her and they argue, where Lorna accuses Joe of being a killer like Fuseli. Disoriented, Joe is unable to stay focused against his opponent, but pulls through with a victory. Before the celebration begins, Joe learns his final blow has killed his opponent. Meanwhile, Joe's managers arrive at the Bonaparte home to wait for Joe and Lorna. Frank receives a call informing him that Joe and Lorna have died in a car accident. Mr. Bonaparte prepares to retrieve the body, saying he will bring Joe "home ... where he belongs."
Production history
Following his 1935 successes
Odets called the play "symbolic," with one latter-era critic noting that "the show pits spiritual ideals against lust for fame and money in what can only be termed an implausible setup."[4] According to John Lahr, "The heroes of 'Golden Boy' and 'The Big Knife' are both torn between commercial success and artistic fulfillment, driven crazy by their decision to live against their natures; both murder themselves out of nostalgia for their lost integrity."[1]
The original
The play was revived on Broadway at the ANTA Playhouse, opening on March 12, 1952 and closing on April 6, 1952 after 55 performances. John Garfield played Joe.[8]
A second Broadway revival, produced by the
References
- ^ a b Lahr, John."Stage Left, The struggles of Clifford Odets"The New Yorker, April 17, 2006
- ^ "Clifford Odets Papers 1926-1963 at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts" Archived 2012-02-23 at the Wayback Machine jewish-theatre.com, retrieved March 27, 2010
- ^ Cohen, Harold W.ReviewPittsburgh Post-Gazette, (news.google.com), December 21, 1937
- ^ Herman, Jan."Stage Review Odets 'Golden Boy' Is Still Powerful in Bold UCI Revival"Los Angeles Times, March 13, 1990
- ^ Atkinson, Brooks. GOLDEN BOY'; Clifford Odets Rewards the Group Theatre With One of. His Best Plays" The New York Times (abstract), November 21, 1937, p.1
- ^ Nugent, Frank S. "Movie Review Golden Boy (1939)", The New York Times, September 8, 1939
- ISBN 0-8222-0456-8books.google.com, retrieved March 27, 2010
- ^ Atkinson, Brooks. "GOLDEN BOY'; Clifford Odets' Drama About a Prize Fighter Still a Powerful Work" The New York Times (abstract), March 23, 1952, p.XI
- ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Clifford Odets' 'Golden Boy', Starring Seth Numrich, Tony Shalhoub, Danny Burstein, to Play the Belasco" playbill.com, August 8, 2012
- ^ Isherwood, Charles "The Sweet Science vs. the Stradivarius: Review of ‘Golden Boy,’ Directed by Bartlett Sher", New York Times, published December 6, 2012.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Clifford Odets' 'Golden Boy' Leaves the Ring; Broadway Revival Concludes Jan. 20" playbill.com, January 20, 2013
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "Nominations Announced for 67th Annual Tony Awards; 'Kinky Boots' Earns 13 Nominations" Archived May 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, April 30, 2013