[NEohioPAL] Brecksville Little Theatre Stages "Lost in Yonkers" June 4 - June 19

[Georgia Maresh]

No one has had more plays produced on Broadway than Neil Simon.  Since 1961 when his first show was staged, he has made us laugh and cry at the human condition.  Lost in Yonkers, like many of Simon's plays, draws on his experiences growing up in New York City.  It was a critical success immediately when produced in 1991.  Although many of Simon's plays won major  awards, Lost in Yonkers was the first Simon play to win the Pulitzer Prize.  Many critics consider the play to be Simon's best work and the pinnacle of his career.  It also won him Broadway’s Tony Award and led to a film adaptation in 1993.
In Simon’s second memoir book, The Play Goes On, he tells how an uncle, who had minor connections to the underworld, was the first inspiration to developing the characters in Lost in Yonkers, which he originally titled Louie, the Gangster.   As the story developed Louie became a supporting character and the play's main themes of survival, acceptance and the importance of one's family took shape, focusing on two young brothers left in the care of their strict grandma and child-like aunt.  Set above a candy store during World War II, the boys’ desperate father takes a job as a travelling salesman to pay off debts following the death of his wife.  In addition to their hard-as-steel German grandma, the household the boys are thrust into include the lovable but child-like aunt  longing to be free of her intimidating mother, a tough-talking but small-time hoodlum uncle on the lam (Louie), and another aunt with a psychological breathing problem.  The
 boys face their disruption with wit, pain and an understanding of human differences that go into the making of a family as sweet and as hard as the candy they sell downstairs.
Athough the play is technically labeled a comedy, it is in fact a hybrid, striking a good balance between comedy and drama.  In the cast, directed Georgia Maresh,  is Ryan D’Achille, Harriet DeVeto, Bay Dorenbos,  David Hess, David Reifel,  Michelle Weber, and Connie Wukovich.  Maresh also  produced the show with husband Ken Maresh.   Dina Collova  is Stage Manager.  Brecksville Little Theatre stages the play in the Old Town Hall on Brecksville’s town square, at the intersection of Routes 21 & 82. The theatre is handicap accessible.  Play dates are Fridays and Saturdays beginning June 4th to June 19th.  Curtain time is 8 pm with a Sunday matinee at 2 pm on June 13th.   Admission is $10 per person and seating is reserved by calling BLT’s box office, 440-526-4477.   Discounts are offered to groups of 25 or more. Visit the theatre’s website, www.brecksvillelittletheatre.org, for more information.
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