Delete Me please asap!
#2re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/2/07 at 9:56amWell, even his serious plays have humor in them. For instance, I was simultaneously in tears and laughing my head off at "Brighton Beach Memoirs". I adore that show.
#2re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/2/07 at 9:59amthanks, that is exactly what I am looking for, can somebody please explain how Brighton Beach Memoirs is semi autobiographical. I know that it in a way deals with Joan's sruggle with cancer, anybody>? Updated On: 1/2/07 at 09:59 AM
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#3re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:01amThe "Diana & Sidney" piece from London Suite.
#4re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:10am
hehe- I did that Diana scene for a Thespian confrence one year.
Brighton Beach memoirs is a portrait of a young boy (presumably Neil Simon) growing up in a Jewish home in Brooklyn. If you read Neil Simon's "Rewrites", his memoirs, you will see the blatent similarities. Eugene (the Neil character in the play) grows up during the outbreak of WWII in a nuclear family. Eugene in effect narrates the play, many times refrencing future writing projects.
(I played Nora in a local production of this- I love this play.)
#6re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:21am
"thanks, that is exactly what I am looking for, can somebody please explain how Brighton Beach Memoirs is semi autobiographical. I know that it in a way deals with Joan's sruggle with cancer, anybody>?"
I'm note sure which play you're thinking of, but it's not Brighton Beach Memoirs, which, as Katurian2 said, is about his teenaged years. Perhaps you're thinking of Chapter Two, in which (IIRC, and I'm not sure I am) a husband is dealing with the aftermath of his wife's death.
I do know most of his plays, and I'd say that there are serious undertones in most of them. Among the ones in which the serious undertones at times become dominant are the second and third plays in the trilogy started by Brighton Beach Memoirs, namely Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound, which also happen to be my favorites of his plays that I know.
The first play in which critics started noticing the serious undertones coming more to the front was the first one-act in Plaza Suite, "Visitor From Mamaroneck."
But perhaps the one in which the serious side becomes most dominant is The Gingerbread Lady. In fact, this play almost closed out of town. Simon revised the original ending, which was very downbeat, to make it cautiously hopeful, but the play is for the most part so dark that even a cautiously upbeat ending doesn't quite ring true.
Other plays in which a dark side comes out pretty clearly include The Last of the Red Hot Lovers and The Prisoner of Second Avenue.
Updated On: 1/2/07 at 10:21 AM
#7re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:17pmI did the Bella/Louie Scene from "Lost In Yonkers" one second you're laughing and the next you're in tears as well because, it is life or death for Bella to have her babies and get her mothers love and recognition. she is capable to bring a child into the world even though she herself is a child at mind.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#8re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:44pm
"I know that it in a way deals with Joan's sruggle with cancer, anybody>?"
I think you might be thinking of his play "Chapter Two" which deals with Simon's efforts to move on and begin dating again after the death of his first wife to cancer.
NathanLaneStalker
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#9re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/2/07 at 5:17pmWell, it's not extremely serious and has many comic moments but Laughter on the 23rd Floor.
neddyfrank2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
#12re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:40pm^ I was thinking the same thing.
#13re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:42pmLost In Yonkers or It Only Hurts When I Laugh
#14re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:42pmHis teacher found out that he was getting help for his homework online and was coming to check, so he needs it deleted ASAP before he is caught.
neddyfrank2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
Bwaybaby109
Broadway Star Joined: 6/28/03
#16re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:51pmYou could edit a message you wrote and leave it blank....just sayin.
#17re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/12/07 at 8:03pmjust so you know that is not at all the reason, its just for some reason my account on bww is not working ie my pms are not going through etc. , and when my tech savvy friend suggested that I delete some of my work here ie threads etc. I am not in 3rd grade where the teacher checks your reports.
#18re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/13/07 at 12:46am
Wait...your account isn't working, so you don't think to PM the mods -- and instead, a friend tells you to delete your threads and that'll help?
I'm so afraid for the future of the world.
#19re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/13/07 at 1:06amYour friend isn't tech savvy at all if that's their suggestion.
Wanting life but never knowing how
#20re: Neil Simon Plays
Posted: 1/13/07 at 1:07amShe said it's purple.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
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