From Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto to Mike Judge's Office Space, injustice in the workplace is a timeless subject, which fuels the ideas of many authors' works.

But, not many stories tackle the theme with such emotion and personality as Clifford Odets' play Waiting for Lefty.

This reason, among others, is why Kate Donohue (junior-English) chose to direct the play.

"You really get involved in the stories of the people, and it becomes not about socialism and oppression," she said. "One of the things this play does is humanize these big concepts."

No Refund Theatre will present the piece at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday in 111 Forum.

After reading the play for a class in American theatre history, Donohue said she was angered by the situations in the characters' lives. She hoped the audience would have the same response.

"I agreed a lot with what Clifford Odets is saying," Donohue said. "It's a very beautiful and moving piece."

Another determining factor in her choice was the fact that she thought the play would work well in the Forum.

"It's meant to be put on in a setting where the audience can get a feeling for what's going on in the play," she said.

Odets' play, which is set in the 1930s, revolves around cab drivers who are fighting for higher wages. The decision of whether or not to strike relates to the pressures in their lives and the lives of their families.

Set in an episodic format, the play does not follow a straightforward timeline. The opening scene is set at the end of the story, and then it goes back in time to scenes in the lives of the characters, leading up to the play's conclusion.

Eric Stix (junior-English), who plays Harry Fatt, said the order of the scenes in the play is what will make it interesting to the audience.

"This isn't a sit back and laugh kind of show," Stix said. "This is a sit forward and see how it relates you. It's very emotionally involved."

Stix, who described his character as a "hard-core capitalist bastard," said he has been enjoying trying to figure out how to play his first-ever villainous character.

Fatt is the secretary of the union, and he is trying to prevent the strike. In doing so, he resorts to some drastic measures, Stix said.

Another central character in the play is Joe Mitchell, a cab driver and union member.

Ryan Irwin (freshman-political science), who portrays Mitchell, said he likes the character because he is seen as young and has the will to make things good in the world.

"There is a strong message portrayed," Irwin said. "The audience will get mad. It may promote them to change things in the world."

One of the famous scenes in the play is when Joe's wife Edna, played by Colleen Mullen (sophomore-theatre arts), threatens to leave him unless he goes on strike.

Mullen said the scene was difficult for her.

"It's hard to act out a little bit, because her main goal is not to be mean and hurt him," she said. "Her goal is to kick him in the butt."

One of the most important aspects of the show is how it can be related to current events, Donohue said.

"People joke that it's about fighting 'the man,' but in reality, people right now find it hard to question things in our society," she said. "People still equate being socialist with being un-American and look down upon that because it's ideas that are not supported by the dominant American culture today."

But, Donohue said Odets would not want the play associated with any label such as "socialist" or "communist."

"One of the things it fights against is the labeling of things," she said. "So, he wouldn't want it labeled 'communist.' It's not supporting one particular ideology so much as encouraging people to not accept oppression."

As always, admission to the show is free.