# Help with Neil Simon **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 22, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-neil-simon/170244 "2003-04-22T04:19:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-neil-simon/170244/1 "2003-04-22T04:19:22Z")
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!!! ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-neil-simon/170244/2 "2003-04-22T04:38:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-neil-simon/170244/3 "2003-04-22T05:25:20Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-neil-simon/170244/4 "2003-04-22T05:29:53Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-neil-simon/170244/5 "2003-04-22T05:44:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-neil-simon/170244/6 "2003-04-22T05:46:38Z")
i’ll have to look up Fools…i hadn’t even heard of it!