The play is a study of a ruthless, sociopathic businessman: his inability to love and the impact of this on others (notably, his son and his wife).

The central character Gregor Antonescu was based on the lives of Ivar Kreuger, the Swedish Match King,[5] and Samuel Insull the Anglo-American investor.

[6] The play, directed by Michael Benthall, originally opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway on November 12, 1963.

[8][9] Maria Aitken again directed the play for Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway in the fall of 2011 at the American Airlines Theatre starring Tony Award winner Frank Langella as Antonescu.

[10] The Australian premiere of Man and Boy was performed at the Garrick Theatre in Perth, Western Australia, in June 2007.