The Day That A Neil Simon Play Is Considered Passé... Is The Day that Broadway is DEAD.

The day that a Neil Simon play is considered passé is the day that Broadway is dead.

This little rant that I am about to posit is a result of the closure of a revival of Neil Simon's classic, "Brighton Beach Memoirs," after only a week of performances and as a result, the complete scuttling of its sequel, "Broadway Bound" which was to play simultaneously with much of the same cast. Why? Because of poor ticket sales, despite the fact that Broadway ticket sales overall are doing quite well. The website of the play http://www.theneilsimonplays.com/


http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Neil+Simon+Plays+Brighton+Beach+Memoirs+Broadway+t_gjRc2msEMl.jpg
Left, the older Eugene Morris Jerome of "Broadway Bound," Josh Grisetti, Mother Jerome played by Laurie Metcalf, and of course, Neil Simon, as well as the young Eugene of "Brighton Beach memoirs," Noah Robbins. The Jerome Household in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.

This article from the NY Daily News sums up a lot the current state of Broadway "Theater."
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/culture/2009/10/the-closing-of-brighton-beach.html



That pretty much sums up the Broadway theater goer of today, "their idea of entertainment is more likely a rock concert," which would probably explain the inexplicable flocking of people to "Rock of Ages" :puke:

or would much rather prefer to see big name pretty face actors like Jude Law in "Hamlet"
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_be6UWCLP7bU/Sh-i7KGg3YI/AAAAAAAAB_I/TuC84DHMrAA/s400/Jude+Law+as+Hamlet.png
or Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig in "A Steady Rain."

Or even a nice, safe, kid friendly Disney production of "Mary Poppins" or the "Lion King."


A short description of "Memoirs" from Wikipedia...


A short description of "Broadway Bound" from Wikipedia...



For those of you that have seen a theatrical performance or big screen adaptation of this play, or by extention any other great Neil Simon play ( The Odd Couple , The Prisoner of Second Ave , Lost in Yonkers , The "Eugene Trilogy" ( Brighton Beach Memoirs , Biloxi Blues , Broadway Bound )just to name a few, as well as Simon's works that were exclusively made for the screen: The Out-of-Towners , The Lonely Guy , The Odd Couple Part II and so on) will understand the inestimable greatness and humor of this great American playwright and screenwriter.

To me, this is truly an indictment of the new Broadway audience and a general dumbing down of the American populace. Like the rest of New York today, its not about substance anymore. It's about glitz, big flashing lights, corporate sponsors, loud music, and big names. As for Neil Simon, Arthur Miller, and Tennessee Williams,...well...their just passé as far as modern theater is concerned. But for me, they, especially Neil Simon, will never be past their prime or outdated. They will survive and linger on in the conscious of the American theater-scape, on community stages and in non-profit theater groups, as long as there are people who appreciate their greatness and ability to capture the people's conscious.

I tip my hat to you, Mr Simon, and will be forever grateful for your contribution to American theatrical culture and comedy.

Rant Concluded. :hangover:

.

I think I prefer Lost in Yonkers to Brighton Beach Memoirs, though.

Lost in Yonkers. Brighton Beach Memoirs, Lost in Yonkers, and The Odd Couple are probably my top 3.

I heard that it was actually quite a good quality production.

I had heard the good reviews and was really hoping to scrape some dough together and buy a ticket since it was supposed to play through December, but ended up only lasting a week. I am really disappointed.

Even a decade ago, people may have still had personal memories about that era, or the grandparents who lived it. Those people are mostly gone now, and the younger people are tied to a more modern time.

Maybe in a decade or so, those plays will be revived, and well-received again.

of his day) and I don't identify with that era. (BTW, I'm not saying that Simon is as good as Ol' Will.)

Perhaps people once tired of Will too:)

that people will one day come to appreciate again the works of Neil Simon and other like playwrights and make musical adaptations of Hollywood movies such as "Legally Blond," the last on their "to see" list.

and not plays 'based' on shakespeare's works- but an actual shakespeare, in the original dialect.

but they are the basis for many "modern" plays & movies..

"Broadway" has kind of been limping along for a long time, since its heyday (the 50's & 60's)...for many reasons..

The cost of putting on a show have risen a lot, as have the ticket prices. People likes & dislikes are just different now..

And the cost of GOING to a show has gotten out of reach for most people:

people don't have to go to the theatre to be entertained.

off b'way is better. Not Disnified.

I love Disney's musical films, but they suck on stage.

Not a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber either.

Schubert a couple of weeks ago, though, MEMPHIS.

http://www.memphisthemusical.com/

Right on both counts.

Both are shallow and witless.

and so damn depressing.

...with a young Stephen Colbert. He sneezed down the back of my neck, if you know the play.

I think highly of Plaza Suite and The Odd Couple.

Nice one!

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2009/11/first-they-came-for-neil-simon.html

that was fast. Geez, I was just making your average DU ramble, I didn't realize it was gonna be posted somewhere else with nearly 200 comments...about what, I have no idea. :crazy:

I'll admit that was clever. And the last pic is just terrifying. :rofl:

with keith- anything is possible.

:rofl:

I remember my high school put it on my freshman year. Everywhere I've been, every community theatre and high school puts it on. There may be a feeling of "How many times have I seen this?". Sometimes a show needs a little break to clear from collective memory.

Good example was South Pacific making a huge come back. Yes, I know it's a musical.

At some point in the future, a director will take Simon's plays out again it will resonate with the times.

you know the rest!


The starts never stop shining. You just can't see them some times. They always come back.

:hi:

Simon is fine and the cast is fine but frankly I'd rather see something else. If I ever get a chance to visit NYC, I would probably go find some Off-Off-Off-Broadway production. Having spent a long time in the theater, glossy professional shows tend to piss me off because I know all the tricks. I'd rather patronize some hungry company that needs my money as well as my butt in the seat.

I know I saw it. I thought it was on the street behind the Hilton that I stayed in a few weeks ago.

I was up with the delivery guys drinking coffee smoking cigarettes and getting ready for a run to Central Park.

I remember thinking-Wow that is STILL playing, great!

Mary Poppins was right down the street. I couldn't believe that that was still playing.

We saw PHANTOM- my first broadway show, pretty cool but the seats were unbelievably uncomfortable and the place was a fire hazard.

He hasn't had a play run over two months in over eight years.

Just like the success of the output of musicians, hits breed more hits.

Also there's the bias of New York critics at play here.

Simon writes for films and *gasp* TV. Critics hate that.

Also, he's been reworking and revisiting his old stuff. (The Sunshine Boys movie, The Odd Couple II, The Goodbye Girl musical...) Critics hate that, also.

Unfortunately, the public reads and listens to critics, whether they know what they're talking about or not.

First of all, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS isn't that old, and maybe isn't quite ready for a revival. And there's always the possibilty that the audience didn't think the cast or production was that good.

I saw Brighton Beach Memoirs in previews, and was really looking forward to Broadway Bound. The closing was a very sad comment on the state of theater appreciation today, as you say. Unless a show has Jude Law or some well-known TV star, it is a dicey situation. The Broadway audience is full of slob tourists who don't bother to turn off their cellphones.

I would also add that certain influential NYC theater critics do not help the situation at all with many shows. So often their reviews are too subjective and seem intended to demonstrate their ultra-rarefied sensitivity and taste; shows that may not be perfect but are well worth seeing are forced to close. You may have only one chance in your life to see certain shows, yet people pass because of too picky, petulant reviews.

As a theater lover who probably sees 60 shows a year, I am very sad.

Describes them to a T.