Neil Simon: America’s playwright?

May 5, 2008

Biloxi Blues
We have two Neil Simon plays available right now and they certainly illustrate the fantastic range of his literature.

Limelight is doing Biloxi Blues, the middle play of the “Eugene Trilogy.” We watch the young man come to adulthood, learning to deal with guys, girls, goys and rednecks.

St. Augustine High School is doing Forty Five Seconds from Broadway, a hip view (even the title is a hip joke. Forty Five Minutes from Broadway” is a show by George M. Cohan.) of the New York theater world. Live from the Polish Tea Room of the Edison Hotel, (just forty five seconds from Broadway) all the folks who live and want to live in the theater. Both represent a tour de force opportunity for their cast and both represent a great evening of theater for anyone who wants to go.

In terms of contemporary theater, Neil Simon is pretty well as good as it gets. His first play Come Blow Your Horn remains a community/professional theater favorite. There is no way to experience the mother’s attempts to deal with incoming phone calls or Father’s “Letter! Letter!! What letter??” without going into complete hysteria. The Odd Couple, Barefoot in the Park, The Sunshine Boys, Rumors, Lost in Yonkers and more. The list goes on and on. Every one is a joy.

Don’t miss your chance to see Neil Simon’s work here in St. Augustine. The Limelight Theater will be doing Biloxi Blues Thursday though Saturday nights (7:30 p.m.) and a 2:00 matinee on Sunday, through the end of May. It’s a great show and very well done.

St. Augustine High School will be doing Forty-five Seconds from Broadway, May 6 and 7 in the High School Auditorium at 7:00 P.M. This is a major show for high school students and they bring it off very well. It is also a chance to see one of the less common Neil Simon plays and that is a rare opportunity indeed.

Written by MacV · Filed Under Entertainment