Desire Under the Elms by Eugene O'Neill

[olga]

Any people willing to discuss this play?

[Winifred]

I haven't read it. Why not give us a report on the play? Did you enjoy it? Have you seen it performed?

[olga]

Well, I would like to ask some questions about the plot details which were not quite clear to me... It's pity if no one here has read it.

I loved the play very much and think it's a great tragedy. I recommend reading it to everyone, especially to Americans (since it's your classics).

I've seen the screen version of the play (1958) with Antony Perkins and Sophia Loren, but I didn't like it at all because the story and the characters were totally distorted by the film creators. What was the biggest mystery to me, why they have changed the year of the action which takes place in the play. O'Neill settled his characters in the year 1850, at time of California golden rush which started in 1848-1849. In the film, the action takes place in 1840, but... still at time of California golden rush which has not even started yet then!