The First Man

The First Man is an attempt to write a modern, sophisticated play that would yet incorporate some of the concepts that had emerged in the romantic studies of the sea. The manner is that of the realistic Strindberg, but the play also includes certain elements of social satire and appears to have an autobiographical basis. It opened at the Neighborhood Playhouse on March 4, 1922, with Augustin Duncan as Curtis Jayson. Reviews of the production and of the play ranged from the negative to the violently condemnatory. There was general agreement among the critics that the play was miscast, that Duncan was too old and that a vital idea had been lost in murky writing. It was noted, however (and the comments may well reflect concerns of the playwright), that O’Neill was essaying comedy scenes with some success and that he was now proving he could handle group scenes on his stage. The reviewers were evidently becoming aware of his habit of reducing his action to monologues.