BROADWAY BOUND by Carol Kaufman Segal

            Broadway Bound is the third play by Neil Simon (July 4, 1927 – Aug. 26, 2018) that features Eugene Jerome, a character based on his own life.  The play opened on Broadway in 1986 and closed after 756 performances.  It was nominated for four Tony Awards, winning two, one for Best Actress and one for Best Featured Actor.  In 1987 it was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize for a drama. 

            The play relates the story of Eugene Jerome (Josh Reiter) and his older brother Stanley (Matthew Nye) who work together as they dream of becoming successful comedy writers for the radio.  They live with their parents Kate (Jill Remez) and Jack (Mark Sande) and their grandfather Ben Epstein (Shelly Kurtz) in Brighton Beach.  The year is 1949.  

            All is not well at the home of the Jeromes.  The boys feel the tension pervading between their parents, and realize that Jack is having an affair.  Their aunt, well-to-do Blanch (Maria Sapssoff), tries to convince their Grandfather to move to Florida, where his wife has gone to live, in order to take the strain off of Kate. 

            When Eugene and Stanley get their first job to write for a comedy show on the radio, they base it on their family.  Jack recognizes the resemblance of the illusory family and theirs and becomes enraged.  Though Kate does her best to try to hold the family together, it is obvious that her life is not the same.  Her nostalgic conversation with Eugene reveals her heartbreak.   

            Eventually Jack makes the decision to leave.  Eugene and Stanley move out when they are offered a job that guarantees them success as comedy writers.  This leaves Kate alone in the house with Ben who, ultimately, makes the move to Florida.   

            How can one not fall in love with the characters portrayed by Neil Simon?  After all, based on his life, they are real human beings with real human problems and one can’t help having real strong feelings for them.  If his play is other than one of his comedies, he is always able to make it magical by adding enough light comedy to it.

            Howard Teichman, Artistic Director of the West Coast Jewish Theatre, directs one of the finest productions of this play that I have ever seen.  Each actor seems born for his or her role, each exceptionally realistic bringing his or her character to life.  The ideal set was designed by Kurtis Bedford.

            Broadway Bound is playing at the Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica.  It plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through October 18, with Thursday performances Oct. 11, 18 and 25, at 8 PM.  Tickets are available online at www.wcjt.tix,com, or by phone at (323) 821-2449.

            HIGHLY RECOMMENDED