Help with Neil Simon

Cafe Society
1

i’m supposed to act/direct a play in college next year. i want to pick a play by Neil Simon. reasons:

  1. observations of human nature couched in subtle and ironic wit.
  2. an immense crowd-pleaser.
  3. a Big Name.
  4. i’m an out and out fan.
  5. very marketable (for fund-gathering reasons).

now, the thing is, i want to do The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, but it would require some really good actors, which i’m very sorry to say, i will not be able to find.

can someone suggest a play by him that is a little less intense on the acting?

or if not, a good play by anyone else? i considered Tom Stoppard, but i’m fairly sure my audience won’t enjoy him. i don’t wish to do greats like Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams for the simple reason that my cast will not be able to do them justice.

help please!!!

2

If you did The Goodbye Girl, you wouldn’t have to cast so many bad actors. The same is true for Barefoot in the Park which still cracks me up.

3

I’m a fan of The Goodbye Girl, too, but the Odd Couple is a crowd pleaser. I’d stay away from his more autobiographical works (Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues and the other one with the name that has completely escaped me but that I could give you a plot summary of if I wasn’t sure you already know which play I’m thinking of). Both * Goodbye Girl* and Odd Couple allow for overacting–a trait both inexperienced and just plain bad actors excell at, so that’s a plus.

Overall, I’d stick with a comedy if you’re unsure of your actors, drama is much less forgiving. There’s a marvelous play called The Curious Savage that has some great character parts. I can’t remember the playwright–but I think he also wrote Teahouse of the August Moon. Good luck to you. I’d audition if I could–and I’m great at overacting!

4

I did Fools back when I was an undergraduate. (I was Count Gregor.) It’s rather silly, but we had a whole lot of fun with it, and it turned out to be a huge hit.

Dr. J

5

thank you for the suggestions!

i’m leaning towards Barefoot in the Park. i would try The Odd Couple, but it is very American, and wouldn’t gel with my Singaporean undergrad audience. plus, casting will be a bitch.

i’ll be looking up The Curious Savage and Teahouse of the August Moon…

if anything else strikes you, do drop me a line here.

6

i’ll have to look up Fools…i hadn’t even heard of it!