#2
Posted: 1/2/07 at 9:56am
Well, 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.
"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck
#3
Posted: 1/2/07 at 9:59am
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>?
Updated On: 1/2/07 at 09:59 AM
#4
Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:01am
The "Diana & Sidney" piece from London Suite.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#5
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.)
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.)
"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck
Updated On: 1/2/07 at 10:10 AM
#7
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.
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
#8
Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:17pm
I 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.
#9
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.
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.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#10
Posted: 1/2/07 at 5:17pm
Well, it's not extremely serious and has many comic moments but Laughter on the 23rd Floor.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
#13
Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:40pm
^ I was thinking the same thing.
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
#14
Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:42pm
Lost In Yonkers or It Only Hurts When I Laugh
....but the world goes 'round
#15
Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:42pm
His 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.
#17
Posted: 1/12/07 at 7:51pm
You could edit a message you wrote and leave it blank....just sayin.
"Have a child for warmth and a baker for bread and a prince for... whatever!"
#18
Posted: 1/12/07 at 8:03pm
just 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.
#19
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.
I'm so afraid for the future of the world.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#20
Posted: 1/13/07 at 1:06am
Your friend isn't tech savvy at all if that's their suggestion.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how
Wanting life but never knowing how
#21
Posted: 1/13/07 at 1:07am
She said it's purple.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-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)
-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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