On the Waterfront: The Play

by Budd Schulberg, Stan Silverman (Primary Contributor)

Budd Schulberg's classic story of the New York waterfront and the kid who “coulda been a contender” is best known in its memorable movie version with Marlon Brando. But here, adapted for the stage by Mr. Schulberg and Stan Silverman, it remains a moving and powerful drama. This play script for On the Waterfront has been used in theatres large and small, throughout the country, to great success. It offers amateur and professional groups an opportunity to re-create Mr. Schulberg's indelible characters and highly charged moments. Helpful stage suggestions are included, and the author introduces the script with a reminiscence that is both poignant and informative. As with all Plays for Performance books, this one is presented with production values uppermost in mind.

Genres: Plays, Classics, Fiction, Audiobook, Drama

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1998

About the author

Budd Schulberg (1914–2009) was a screenwriter, novelist, and journalist who is best remembered for the classic novels What Makes Sammy Run?, The Harder They Fall, and the story On the Waterfront, which he adapted as a novel, play, and an Academy Award–winning film script. Born in New York City, Schulberg grew up in Hollywood, where his father, B. P. Schulberg, was head of production at Paramount, among other studios. Throughout his career, Schulberg worked as a journalist and essayist, often writing about boxing, a lifelong passion. Many of his writings on the sport are collected in Sparring with Hemingway (1995). Other highlights from Schulberg’s nonfiction career include Moving Pictures (1981), an account of his upbringing in Hollywood, and Writers in America (1973), a glimpse of some of the famous novelists he met early in his career. He died in 2009.

Reviews

[L J Field · Rating 3 out of 5]

This play is much different from the movie of the same title. There are over twenty scenes in the play and I really couldn't picture how it could be performed on a stage due to the variety of staging needs. I think the movie delivered a much more appealing story and ending. Overall I wouldn't attend a performance of this work as a play.

[Relena_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the LA Theatreworks version of the play. It was probably assisted by my love of Jeffrey Donovan, who did a fantastic job in the lead. The love story moves far too fast, but that's just how a bunch of plays work 🤷‍♀️

[Victoria & David Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the whole, I prefer the screenplay (which I have not yet read).

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a great version of this classic on Audible. I really felt for Terry Mallory. He is a tragic character caught in the times he lived in.

Non fiction
New Jersey
1940s

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I listened to a version with Jeffery Donovan playing Terry. It was pretty good. A few foul words but I am glad I listened to it as a play because I think it gave it a little more depth then just reading it would have done.

[Marcella · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF though I made it through the first act. I listened to it as an audiobook, which always helps. The play seems well written but is a political piece of its time, which is why I lost interest. I'm aware it's great on the stage/screen but i couldn't get through it on audio.