Brighton Beach Memoirs
by Neil Simon

Name: Brighton Beach Memoirs
Brand: Neil Simon
SKU: 9780573619410
Rating: 3.88 (5387 reviews)

Broadway

Brighton Beach Memoirs Book Cover — Brighton Beach Memoirs Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

120 mins1930sStrong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)Interior SetPeriod CostumesAmerican Comedy

What readers are saying

Many readers find "Brighton Beach Memoirs" to be a heartwarming and humorous depiction of family dynamics during the Great Depression. The relatable characters and witty dialogue are often praised, showcasing Neil Simon's talent for blending comedy with serious themes. However, some feel the play's content may not resonate well with all audiences, particularly in a modern context.

Humorous and touching storyRelatable charactersExcellent writing and dialogueHeartwarming family dynamicsSome content may feel outdatedA bit too risqué for young audiences

Synopsis

Full Length Comic Drama / 3m 4f / Comb.

Ints/Ext

Here is part one of Neil Simon's autobiographical trilogy: a portrait of the writer as a young teen in 1937 living with his family in a crowded lower middle-class Brooklyn walk-up.

Eugene Jerome standing in for the author is the narrator and central character.

Dreaming of baseball and girls Eugene must cope with the mundane existence of his family life in Brooklyn: formidable mother overworked father and his worldly older brother Stanley

Press Reviews

"Hilarious comedy... his finest play... a delightful and enriching experience."
— CBS-TV

"There’s no romanticized gloss on the view of family life; the bonds are intense and unbreakable, yet they come through with all the wrinkles of real life."
— Variety

"Brings a fresh glow to Broadway… In many respects his funniest, richest and consequently the most affecting of his plays."
— New York Daily News

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
EUGENE Almost 15	—	—	Almost 15
BLANCHE 38	—	—	38
KATE	—	—	—
JEROME 40, Blanche’s sister, Eugene’s mother	female	40	40, Blanche’s sister, Eugene’s mother
LAURIE 13	—	—	13
NORA Her sister, lovely at 16	female	—	Her sister, lovely at 16
STANLEY	—	—	—
JEROME 18	—	—	18
JACOB “JACK” JEROME about 40, Eugene’s father	male	40	about 40, Eugene’s father