Clifford Odets (1906-1963) was born to immigrant parents in Philadelphia and was raised in the Bronx. He began his career as a playwright in the Group Theatre, which promoted the American adaptation of method acting. During the 1930s, Odets was a member of the Communist Party and his plays show an intense concern for the working class. Like many others, he was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee during the Red Scare. However, unlike his fellow playwright Arthur Miller who refused to testify, Odets explained why he had been involved with the Communist Party and cooperated by answering the committee's questions. From the mid-1930s to his death, Odets worked for Hollywood. He worked on other people's screenplays and produced his own original works. In the 1950s he began to produce scripts for television anthologies. His last work appeared on The Richard Boone Show (1963-64).
Study Questions:
Day 1 (Episodes 0-2):
1. What is the effect of placing actors in the audience? Does this produce a distancing effect (like Brecht) or does it merely produce a more inclusive illusion?
2. What is the purpose of episodes one and two? How do they relate to the strike?
POLISHED WORKING DRAFT DUE!
Day 2 (Episodes 3-5):
1. How might episode three relate to episode one (Joe and Edna) and episode two (Lab Assistant Episode)?
2. Why is the medicine episode (episode five) in the play? How might it relate to episode two?
3. What is the effect of the play's ending?
4. As a work of agitprop, Waiting for Lefty is meant to convey a political point of view and convince its audience. However, the play is only successful if it works as a piece of art. What do you find artistic about the play?
Study Questions:
Day 1 (Episodes 0-2):
1. What is the effect of placing actors in the audience? Does this produce a distancing effect (like Brecht) or does it merely produce a more inclusive illusion?
2. What is the purpose of episodes one and two? How do they relate to the strike?
POLISHED WORKING DRAFT DUE!
Day 2 (Episodes 3-5):
1. How might episode three relate to episode one (Joe and Edna) and episode two (Lab Assistant Episode)?
2. Why is the medicine episode (episode five) in the play? How might it relate to episode two?
3. What is the effect of the play's ending?
4. As a work of agitprop, Waiting for Lefty is meant to convey a political point of view and convince its audience. However, the play is only successful if it works as a piece of art. What do you find artistic about the play?
