Historic Photo Gallery: 1941 to 1946
1942
At the height of his fame after completing the filming of
Citizen Kane,
Orson Welles re-affirmed his place as the most talented director on the American
stage with
Native Son. Opening at the Walnut on February 23, 1942,
Welles was innovative in his use of realism and expressionism to tell the story
of an embittered black youth who accidentally kills the daughter of his white
employer. The play did not include an intermission, and in order to prevent
distracting noise from the rustling of pages, programs were not distributed until
after the performance. The set and sound effects were instrumental in creating
the oppressive world of the show's leading character, and critics and audiences
raved over the production. (Photograph courtesy of the Theatre Collection,
Free Library of Philadelphia.)
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