Overview
Synopsis
What does it mean to “grow up?” When does it happen? And, does everyone have the same experience? Neil Simon’s semi-autobiographical play, Come Blow Your Horn examines all of these questions through the lens of the Baker Family. There is Mr. Baker, who began working at age eleven and was married at twenty-one; Alan, his eldest son, is a thirty-three-year-old confirmed bachelor and womanizer; Buddy, the youngest, is Alan’s opposite -- hard-working, obedient, reserved, and unsure; Mrs. Baker is adept at the art of emotional manipulation and is prone to hysterics. Throughout the course of the play, the family struggles to understand and adjust to one another, as the two sons begin to grow up, and the parents realize that they are growing old.
Show Information
- Book
- Neil Simon
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1961
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- the present (1961), alan’s bachelor apartment in the east 60’s, new york city
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- None
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Silent |
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
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Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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