"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss," is more than just a line from a Who song. One only has to compare the labor themes proffered in Clifford Odets' stirring 1935 script with the battles being waged by unions today to see that little has changed over the years. Although Odets' pro-Communist slant is certainly dated, his depiction of union members fighting for a living wage, as they struggle to clean up their union, still rings true.
The action centers on a raucous strike meeting of cabbies and their challenge to a corrupt union boss. Odets also includes a number of vignettes depicting the personal travails of these workers and members of the medical and acting professions to illustrate the evil impact of corporate greed. He also takes several swipes at the use of union spies by companies. The action at the theatre begins outside, with a mock picket line that seems all too real.
Martin Barter ably directs this revival, keeping the action humming along. David Caprita is terrific as Harry Fatt, the corrupt union secretary, as is Chris Pauley as Joe, the radical cabbies' second-in-command, who leads the meeting while awaiting Lefty's arrival. Also first rate are Sid, smartly portrayed by John Burish, and Tea Mindeli as Sid's long-suffering fiancée. The only problem is Nancy Matthews' lighting design. The personal vignettes are played on the set of the strike meeting, but the lights are kept so dim it's hard to see the action onstage. Still, this is a solid production with timely themes.
"Waiting for Lefty," presented by and at the Sanford Meisner Center Theatre, 5124 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat. 9 p.m. May 20-July 2. $12-18. (818) 509-9651.