Amidst the tumultuous backdrop of the Great Depression, Clifford Odets's Waiting for Lefty emerged as a defining piece of revolutionary theatre. Reflecting the social and economic challenges of 1930s America, the play inspired audiences with its powerful portrayal of class struggle and labor rights. Despite its initial acclaim, the play's legacy has been reconsidered over the decades, revealing both its historical significance and limitations.

Origins and Impact

Basing his work on the 1934 taxi strike in New York, Clifford Odets penned Waiting for Lefty in just three days. The play premiered as part of a contest for one-act plays designed for workers to perform in their meeting places, quickly spreading to theaters across the nation. Its unique structure involved the audience directly in the action, blurring the line between performers and spectators. Attendees, caught up in the fervor of the play, often left the theater chanting "Strike! Strike!" as if they were participants in an actual labor protest.

Produced by the Group Theatre—a left-wing theater company founded by Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford, and Lee Strasberg—the play was hailed as the epitome of agitprop theatre. This genre, which aimed to incite political action, was widespread during the 1930s, a period rich in social fiction and drama. The play's themes, which include class struggle and the exploitation of workers, resonated strongly with audiences grappling with the harsh realities of the Great Depression.

Characterization and Stagecraft

The characters in Waiting for Lefty are drawn with broad strokes, serving the play’s purpose as a modern morality tale rather than a nuanced narrative. Figures like Fatt, representing corrupt union officials, contrast starkly with the noble and self-sacrificing members of the strike committee. This simplicity, though, effectively conveyed the play’s urgent call for social change. The dialogue was crafted to mirror contemporary life, with characters speaking in a manner true to their real-world counterparts, lending authenticity and immediacy to the drama.

The play's innovative staging also contributed to its impact. By integrating the audience into the scenes, Odets ensured that theatergoers were emotionally invested from the outset. This participatory aspect meant that audiences often shouted, rushed the stage, or exited the aisles in emotional response, blurring the divide between fiction and reality.

Legacy and Re-evaluation

Upon its debut, Waiting for Lefty was celebrated for capturing the social and emotional undercurrents of its time. Critics, including Brooks Atkinson of the New York Times, praised its realism and intensity, remarking on the raw, tender, and sometimes bitter emotions it portrayed. The play quickly made its way into the repertories of numerous left-wing organizations, serving as both a fundraising and morale-boosting tool.

However, as the decades passed, the play's reception evolved. During the Cold War, when radical literature was often criticized or ignored, Odets's work fell out of favor. Yet, as the cultural climate shifted during the 1960s and 1970s, interest in the social literature of the 1930s revived. Critics began to recognize Waiting for Lefty as a significant theatrical work that captured the human spirit amid America's darkest economic times.

Odets’s Broader Body of Work

Though Waiting for Lefty remains Odets’s most famous foray into agitprop, it is not indicative of his entire oeuvre. Following the play's success, Odets's career took a turn toward more conventional dramas and screenplays, with an emphasis on personal and domestic conflicts rather than overt political themes. Works such as Awake and Sing!, Golden Boy, and The Big Knife showcase his skill in realistic dialogue and characterization.

Despite accusations from some contemporaries of abandoning his radical roots, Odets's later works continued to explore complex social and personal themes, albeit through...