Me and Orson Welles

Set over the course of one week in Manhattan in 1937, Me and Orson Welles (2003), American author and teacher Robert Kaplow’s young-adult historical fiction novel, centers on Richard Samuels, a Jewish boy from New Jersey who comes of age when he stumbles on the chance to meet his boyhood hero, Orson Welles. Kirkus Reviews called Me and Orson Welles “joyful and alive, crackling with wonder,” while The New York Times called it “nimble, likable and smart.” In 2009, director Richard Linklater adapted the novel into an independent feature film starring Zac Efron as Samuels and Christian McKay as Welles. The cinematic adaptation was named one of the top ten best independent films of the year by the National Board of Review.

Narrated in the first person perspective by seventeen-year-old Richard Samuels, the story begins in Dullsville, New Jersey. Richard is a bright, precarious, and not too nerdy English Honors student who feels most comfortable taking chances in front of strangers, and most insecure around friends and family. When Richard isn’t spending time at school or with his pretty but cold girlfriend, he aimlessly ventures into Manhattan looking more fulfilling experiences. He peruses museums and libraries as he romantically daydreams of art, literature, poetry, and theater. One Saturday, everything changes for Richard when he notices some action near Bryant Park. Richard goes to see what the commotion is all about, and soon learns that the Mercury Theater Repertory Company is rehearsing its inaugural production, a “lean and brutal” avant-garde, modern-day version of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, set to open to the public on the upcoming Thursday. By luck, Welles, the brash twenty-two-year-old producer, writer, director, and star of the show, notices Richard as rehearsal disbands and immediately offers him the role of Lucius. Richard is struck by Welles’s larger than life personality, his pompous arrogance, and self-centered, egomaniacal mannerisms. Intimidated at first, Richard accepts the role of Lucius even though he has mere hours to learn the part before the production premieres.

Within days, Richard becomes immersed in daily rehearsals. Star-struck but self-confident, bold but naïve, Richard meets one of the Mercury’s female production assistants, Sonja Jones, who appears to be attracted to him. Richard develops feelings for Sonja as the week progresses, though he has a keen sense that Welles also has eyes for the young lady. Richard also suspects the philandering Welles has cheated on his pregnant wife with the female lead of Julius Caesar.



Welles, who has enjoyed extraordinary good fortune in his life, confesses to Richard that he is afraid that his luck will finally run out with the premiere of the play. He is terrified his production will be a major flop. During rehearsal one day, Richard inadvertently sets off the sprinkler alarm, drenching the entire theater. Welles confronts Richard about the flood, but Richard denies his involvement, chalking it up to the bad luck Welles was expecting to come, and perhaps even needed, to pass before the premiere. The bombastic Welles thinks it best for the cast and crew to work together in a coupling ritual. Richard takes the opportunity to rig the game so that he is paired with Sonja. Richard and Sonja spend the night together. However, Sonja spends the following night with Welles, causing Richard to become jealous. As a result, Richard confronts Welles, bringing up his pregnant wife, for which he is summarily fired. Richard and Welles make amends after a short time, and Richard performs on opening night.

The play is a massive success, but following the premiere, Welles informs Richard that he only needed him for one show to ensure the success of opening night. Richard is fired once again from the production. Richard, feeling jilted but wiser, regains confidence as he recites lines from Julius Caesar in front of his high-school English class, for which he receives a round of applause. Later, He reunites with Gretta Adler, a budding playwright whom he met in a Manhattan music store prior to rehearsing the play. Richard and Sonja help Gretta get one of her stories published in The New Yorker, setting up a potential romance between Richard and Gretta in the future. At the end of the novel, Gretta invites Richard out to celebrate her achievement.

In addition to Me and Orson Welles, Kaplow has written six novels. They include Two in the City, Alex Icicle: A Romance in Ten Torrid Chapters, Alessandra in Love, Alessandra in Between, The Cat Who Killed Lillian Jackson Braun: A Parody, and Who’s Killing the Great Writers of America.