Overview
Synopsis
When it was first produced by the Group Theater in 1935, Waiting for Lefty made a sensation of its playwright, Clifford Odets, who became the theatrical conscience of his generation, much as Arthur Miller and Tony Kushner later would for their own generations. Lefty is the story of a meeting of a New York cab driver’s union on the verge of a strike. The union’s corrupt leader Harry Fatt does everything he can to discourage it, and the mysterious absence of left-leaning advocate Lefty Costello doesn’t bode well for the would-be strikers. After hearing the heart-wrenching tales of four hard-working cab drivers -- each story dramatized before the eyes of the audience before transitioning seamlessly back into the union meeting -- Agate Keller takes the stage and demands immediate action. When word comes that Lefty has been found “with a bullet in his head,” the union joins Agate in chanting “STRIKE, STRIKE, STRIKE!!!”
Show Information
- Book
- Clifford Odets
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1935
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- 1935, a union hall in new york city
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
|
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A portmanteau of "agitation" and "propaganda," a type of political propaganda used in art, literature, and performance.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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