Overview
Synopsis
Brighton Beach Memoirs is the first play in Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical comedic Eugene trilogy, which also includes Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound. The story of Brighton Beach Memoirs follows almost 15-year-old Eugene Jerome as he grows up in 1937 Brooklyn. Eugene learns about girls, family, relationships, and the impending war. Eugene makes many witty observations about life and the need for family throughout the play, as he interacts with his passionate, quirky Polish-Jewish relatives.
Show Information
- Book
- Neil Simon
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1982
- Genres
- Comedy, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- brighton beach, brooklyn, new york, september, 1937
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Star Vehicle Male, Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Early Teen, Adult, Late Teen, Mature Adult Characters
Context
Neil Simon, known for his comedic wit in plays such as The Odd Couple and Rumors, turned to his own childhood for inspiration. Set in Brooklyn during the Great Depression, Brighton Beach Memoirs is a coming-of-age story for Eugene Jerome, a 15-year-old boy obsessed with girls and baseball. The first play of the “Eugene Trilogy,” Brighton Beach Memoirs premiered in 1982 in Los Angeles before moving to San Francisco. Following these successful trials, it opened on March 27, 1983, at the
to read the context for Brighton Beach Memoirs and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
At the Jerome house on Brighton Beach, in September of 1937, almost 15-year-old Eugene Jerome fantasizes about playing professional baseball. Inside the house, Eugene’s mother Kate is preparing dinner, while his nearsighted aunt Blanche struggles to see her work at the sewing machine. His 13-year-old cousin Laurie lounges while she reads a book; because she has a heart flutter, no one makes her do any housework. On the other hand, Eugene is called upon to help set the table.
to read the plot for Brighton Beach Memoirs and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A collection of three seperate works that feature some or all of the same characters.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress