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ameliaelliott's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ohclaire's review against another edition
2.0
I really did not like this play... family angst in the late Depression as narrated by a pervy teenage boy? No thank you.
ponch22's review
5.0
I saw (and I think read) [a:Neil Simon|60047|Neil Simon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1202671748p2/60047.jpg]’s [b:Brighton Beach Memoirs|173890|Brighton Beach Memoirs|Neil Simon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348325542s/173890.jpg|1800817] several years ago after a local theater put on a production of it. The same theater is doing it again and I wanted to reread it to see if I should audition for it.
I love Simon’s writing and I believe this may be one of his best. This semi-autobiographical story revolves around Eugene, a young boy who struggles with puberty and living with his family—his older brother Stanley, his parents Kate & Jack, his aunt Blanche, and his two cousins, Nora & Laurie. They struggle to make ends meet during the Great Depression while newspapers hint that another Great War might be looming...
Eugene is developing feelings for his older cousin Nora (although any female could probably win his love) while he’s constantly being told what to do since his younger cousin has some apparent health problems. Jack and Stanley work several jobs between them to try to keep all seven fed and clothed. Blanche is a widow who feels some shame being a burden on her sister, but Kate barely says anything and just lets the stress bubble up inside her until it breaks through in Act 2. And Nora is frustrated because she wants to join a new Broadway musical but her family wants her to stay in school.
There are other little conflicts that come up, but it's all written so realistically with Eugene often breaking the fourth wall and the omniscient narrator for the whole tale. Jack is the only role I could hope for, and I may be a little too young for it, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to try—with the right kids, it can be a fantastic show.
I love Simon’s writing and I believe this may be one of his best. This semi-autobiographical story revolves around Eugene, a young boy who struggles with puberty and living with his family—his older brother Stanley, his parents Kate & Jack, his aunt Blanche, and his two cousins, Nora & Laurie. They struggle to make ends meet during the Great Depression while newspapers hint that another Great War might be looming...
Eugene is developing feelings for his older cousin Nora (although any female could probably win his love) while he’s constantly being told what to do since his younger cousin has some apparent health problems. Jack and Stanley work several jobs between them to try to keep all seven fed and clothed. Blanche is a widow who feels some shame being a burden on her sister, but Kate barely says anything and just lets the stress bubble up inside her until it breaks through in Act 2. And Nora is frustrated because she wants to join a new Broadway musical but her family wants her to stay in school.
There are other little conflicts that come up, but it's all written so realistically with Eugene often breaking the fourth wall and the omniscient narrator for the whole tale. Jack is the only role I could hope for, and I may be a little too young for it, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to try—with the right kids, it can be a fantastic show.
madelyn_macabre's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
wendybird727's review against another edition
5.0
I went through a big Brighton Beach Memoirs phase back when I originally read the play. I went out and rented the movie, my friends and I would cast ourselves in the parts and do readings of it, and by the end of the sixth grade I had my own very tattered copy of the copy. Looking back I think that while Eugene is sort of an archetypal adolescent, stereotypical Jew of the time, what-have-you, he is also a magnetic and well written protagonist.
melissacushman's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aelakaylee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
johnsp8's review
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lexigoyette's review against another edition
3.0
Brighton Beach Memoirs is very different than the other 2 Neil Simon plays I've read ([book:The Odd Couple|450573] and [book:Barefoot in the Park|126903]) and the 2 I've seen ([book:Rumors|170560] and [book:California Suite|3806200]) because it lacks the same sense of farce. The comedic pacing is Simon-esque but the subject matter is much deeper, with higher stakes. It's an emotional roller coaster.
That being said, I enjoyed some of the plot elements more than others. The sibling bond is a huge aspect of the play, with Stanley and Eugene at the forefront. The brotherly bond was realistic, heartfelt, and entertaining. However, Kate and Blanche's sisterly relationship felt a little forced to me; there was too much exposition, too much stating things, and not enough raw emotion for me. In addition, Laurie and Nora's relationship fell very flat; they had a nice scene together at the beginning but it never came around full circle. The male characters in this play are much more dynamic, multi-dimensional, and interesting than the female characters. To me, that was a big drawback.
The setting of this play, in pre-WWII Brooklyn, was unexpected from Simon and his usual antics. The looming fear of WWII's arrival creates a sense of discomfort at the otherwise typical comedic ending.
As a whole, I enjoyed this play, but it's not one that will stick with me.
That being said, I enjoyed some of the plot elements more than others. The sibling bond is a huge aspect of the play, with Stanley and Eugene at the forefront. The brotherly bond was realistic, heartfelt, and entertaining. However, Kate and Blanche's sisterly relationship felt a little forced to me; there was too much exposition, too much stating things, and not enough raw emotion for me. In addition, Laurie and Nora's relationship fell very flat; they had a nice scene together at the beginning but it never came around full circle. The male characters in this play are much more dynamic, multi-dimensional, and interesting than the female characters. To me, that was a big drawback.
The setting of this play, in pre-WWII Brooklyn, was unexpected from Simon and his usual antics. The looming fear of WWII's arrival creates a sense of discomfort at the otherwise typical comedic ending.
As a whole, I enjoyed this play, but it's not one that will stick with me.