In 1937, Clifford Odets debuted Golden Boy, a play exploring the conflict between ambition and identity during the Great Depression. The story is focused on Joe Bonaparte, a gifted violinist who sets aside his dream of artistic success for the quick bucks of boxing. Troubled by the choice he has made, he protects his hands as best he can, but the brutal sport wins out. Odets’s play is revived at London’s Almeida Theatre by the Olivier Award-winning director Sam Yates (VANYA; Magpie), starring Golden Globe winner Josh O’Connor (The Crown, Challengers) as Bonaparte. The story is a classic tale of the temptations and struggles of the American Dream—which feel more poignant than ever—now brought to life with a live string quartet. —Gracie Wiener