'Brighton' offers relatable family plot

Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical tale will be playing at Rhynsburger Theatre.

By Lauryn Stallings

Published Feb. 23, 2010

It's Depression-era New York, and Eugene Morris Jerome, the main character in the play "Brighton Beach Memoirs" has invited you to look on as he deals with puberty and pleasure, family and fighting.

Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" is the story of the Jerome family struggling with the economy and each other in a poor immigrant neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y. The MU theatre department will be putting on the play this month at the Rhynsburger Theatre.

In the play, the family quickly builds a rapport. When smothering mother Kate Jerome calls for her sons or tells her sister to stop sewing or go blind, the audience will undoubtedly recall a similar memory of their mother telling them to stop sitting so close to the television. She dotes on the young and old, alike.

Overworked father Jack Jerome brings himself home to listen to the problems of his oldest son, Stanley, working full time and bringing home his pay and his sister-in-law's flippant (and often misunderstood) daughter, Nora. He might struggle to pay the bill, but he never lacks the emotional income that holds his family together.

Almost 15 years old, Eugene Morris Jerome is the comical voice of reason. He idolizes his older brother and when he's not pestering him about naked girls, he's trying to help him out of trouble. At times he feels all the blame is on him, but he'd rather have his family together and play scapegoat than let it go to ruin.

There is a character for every audience member, someone relatable who compels you to hope everything is sorted out by the time curtain closes.

That is what director James Miller is hoping for. He not only chooses productions that will complement the talent of his actors, but also shows also complement the people filling the house.

A strained family atmosphere is present. Affection is evident, even delivered wryly. Parent-child conflicts include an overwhelming desperation, trumping simple melancholy. In tension-filled gazes across the ketchup-laden dinner table and a chorus of sibling disagreements, a family emerges from the intimate cast.

Senior Andrew Rea portrays Eugene Morris with startling conviction. Rea displays a wide range of emotions but some took a fair amount of searching.

When Nora runs into the house thrilled with the possibilities of her future, Eugene's enthusiasm to please her is shockingly crude. His asides are telling -- just the information you need just when you need it.

"I'm not generally a very enthusiastic or youthful person," Rea said. "It's been refreshing to sort of play so young." But Rea is not the only breakout star in this performance.

Junior Fraisia Logan is able to channel her memories of adolescence and pour them into Nora Morton's character.

"I definitely had a bit of (her) mindset when I was 16," Logan said. "It was hard, but you grow up and you realize that they're really just protecting you. But when you're 16, you don't realize that by any means."

It's a show filled with bound emotions boiling over, children on the cusp of independence but still in need of guidance. If you don't relate to some character or experience, you may need to be prescribed a dose of humanity.

"It's a show about a family and it's kind of universal themed," Miller said, explaining one reason he picked the show.

On opening night, the only anxiety from the cast will be due to the audience. They'll be hoping it's loaded and silent, attentive only to the history unfolding before them.

Triumphant in its ending, the message is resolute. A family's embrace is the only thing you need.

"Brighton Beach Memoirs" will play at the Rhynsburger Theatre from Feb. 25 to Feb. 27 and frome March 4 to March 7. Tickets are $8 for students.