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The Prisoner of Second Avenue

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Overview

Synopsis

Edna and Mel are a struggling, middle-aged couple living in New York City. Mel has just lost his job, the walls of their apartment are much too thin, and the city is in the middle of a heat wave. Their troubles escalate when Mel suffers a nervous breakdown. Mel becomes slightly paranoid, the apartment is robbed, and their neighbors, well, they don’t help matters much. Throughout it all, Edna does her best to support her husband, even getting a job of her own after Mel is fired. Her efforts aren’t enough, however, and Mel’s siblings are called in as backup. Quickly, in a crowded apartment in the most crowded city in the world, all hell breaks loose, and it becomes apparent that the only thing Mel and Edna can rely on are the people closest to them.

Show Information

Book
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1971
Genres
Drama, Comedy, Dark Comedy
Settings
Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
the entire action takes place in a manhattan apartment on second avenue in the upper eighties, a midsummer’s day, mid-september, mid-december
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
Ideal For
professional theatre, university / college theatre, community theatre, amateur theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Small Cast

Characters

Character Portrayals

See StageAgent members who have performed roles in The Prisoner of Second Avenue.

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