Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs comes to Belwood
For Immediate Release
The final production in the 2008 Belwood Summer Theatre is a semi-autobiographical comedy by one of America’s best-loved playwrights. Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs is the story of a young boy coming of age in Brighton Beach, New York in 1937, in an overcrowded, overwhelmed household.
The play is narrated by Euguene Morris Jerome, a thinly disguised version of the young Neil Simon himself. Eugene is both an observer and a player in this story, and it is as much about his coming of age as it is the coming of age of pre-war America. His thoughts, which he writes down in his “memoirs” are funny, piercing looks at the ironies that shape his life, from the death of his uncle (which has led to his aunt and her two daughters moving in) to the hard work and sacrifice of his father, who seems to have to keep working harder and harder just to care for the seven people living under his roof.
In true Neil Simon fashion though, the pains and frustrations are all framed by sweet, touching hilarity, and anyone who has endured the trials of family life through tough times will find much to enjoy. And of course, Simon wouldn’t let his audience leave the theatre without a happy ending, would he?
Grinder Productions Creative and Executive Director Eric Goudie is in the Director’s chair for this production, as well as playing the role of Jack, the father and breadwinner of the family.
“I’ve never played a character this old” Goudie jokes. “But it has been a lot of fun, working on this show. I’m blessed to have work with such a great ensemble who are patient enough to put up with me in my dual roles as actor and director.”
The show opens August 21st and runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, with a 2pm Saturday matinee. Tickets are $15 each, with a group rate of $12 for groups of ten or more. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Grinder box office at 519-780-7593, by visiting the website at www.grinderproductions.org, or at the door. For more information on Grinder Productions, the Ennotville or Belwood Summer Theatres, or any of the events coming up this season, please visit our website at www.grinderproductions.org.
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For interviews, photo opportunities or more information please contact Eric Goudie, either by phone at 519-780-7593 or via e-mail at grinder@grinderproductions.org.
The final production in the 2008 Belwood Summer Theatre is a semi-autobiographical comedy by one of America’s best-loved playwrights. Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs is the story of a young boy coming of age in Brighton Beach, New York in 1937, in an overcrowded, overwhelmed household.
The play is narrated by Euguene Morris Jerome, a thinly disguised version of the young Neil Simon himself. Eugene is both an observer and a player in this story, and it is as much about his coming of age as it is the coming of age of pre-war America. His thoughts, which he writes down in his “memoirs” are funny, piercing looks at the ironies that shape his life, from the death of his uncle (which has led to his aunt and her two daughters moving in) to the hard work and sacrifice of his father, who seems to have to keep working harder and harder just to care for the seven people living under his roof.
In true Neil Simon fashion though, the pains and frustrations are all framed by sweet, touching hilarity, and anyone who has endured the trials of family life through tough times will find much to enjoy. And of course, Simon wouldn’t let his audience leave the theatre without a happy ending, would he?
Grinder Productions Creative and Executive Director Eric Goudie is in the Director’s chair for this production, as well as playing the role of Jack, the father and breadwinner of the family.
“I’ve never played a character this old” Goudie jokes. “But it has been a lot of fun, working on this show. I’m blessed to have work with such a great ensemble who are patient enough to put up with me in my dual roles as actor and director.”
The show opens August 21st and runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, with a 2pm Saturday matinee. Tickets are $15 each, with a group rate of $12 for groups of ten or more. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Grinder box office at 519-780-7593, by visiting the website at www.grinderproductions.org, or at the door. For more information on Grinder Productions, the Ennotville or Belwood Summer Theatres, or any of the events coming up this season, please visit our website at www.grinderproductions.org.
•
For interviews, photo opportunities or more information please contact Eric Goudie, either by phone at 519-780-7593 or via e-mail at grinder@grinderproductions.org.
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