New Village Arts tackles ambitious, big-cast 'Golden Boy'

By PATRICIA MORRIS BUCKLEY - For the North County Times | Wednesday, June 18, 2008 9:28 AM PDT ∞

Joshua Everett Johnson admits that Clifford Odets' "Golden Boy" is just the type of show that scares theater companies ---- even New Village Arts Theatre.

"This isn't a play that you just throw together," said Johnson, who both directs and acts in the production. "It's scary to do, but we've always been a theater company that lives on the edge of our seats. It's very close to the kind of theater we do ---- theater inspired by the Actor's Studio. It felt time to tackle it."

First produced in 1937, "Golden Boy" is the story of Joe Bonaparte, a promising violinist who has another talent ---- boxing. The lure of boxing is the opportunity to make big money. But it also holds the threat of hurting his hands so that he can no longer play the violin.

The play also follows a real struggle in Odets' life. He had started to dabble in Hollywood after the success of his plays, "Waiting for Lefty" and "Awake and Sing!" Hollywood, like boxing, held the promise of big money, while theater meant a more satisfying artistic experience to him. Interestingly enough, the play eventually became a movie, which starred a young William Holden in his first starring role.

"This play originated with Odets' work in New York City with the Group Theatre," said Johnson, who plays Joe's prizefighting promoter. "It was during a very inspiring time for American theater. We are such fans of the Group Theatre, and you can see its influence all over this work."

The writing is what makes the play special, he pointed out.

"This is a play that's simultaneously of the streets and poetic. It's a combination of beauty and street smarts, of guts and softness. It's like a great slice of humanity. It's so unbelievably beautiful and alive," said Johnson, a longtime New Village Arts company member who became the company's artistic associate this past spring.

It's also one of the largest casts ever assembled for a New Village Arts production. Originally written for 19 actors, this production features 14 actors.

"The greatest challenge of the show is the size," he said. "It's a three-act play with a large cast. Even the set is huge. It can be really intimidating unless you get a firm grasp of the language. But the same things that make it challenging are the things that make it exciting."

The play is set during the Depression era of the 1930s in New York City.

"It's soaked in that time and place," he noted. "It couldn't be in any other place or time."

The ultimate message is clear: "We all fight to become someone bigger or better, but perhaps you need to stop," he said. "You might already be who you want to be. And you might lose your humanity in the struggle for material things. This play shows how there's such beauty in strength itself."

"Golden Boy"

When: Opens Saturday and runs through July 31; showtimes, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: New Village Arts Theatre, 2787 B State St., Carlsbad

Tickets: $26, general; $22, seniors, students and military

Phone: (760) 433-3245

Web: NewVillageArts.org

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