The comedy and pathos of Brighton Beach Memoirs

A family dinner in the Jerome household. Photo by Martin Pulley.

Brighton Beach Memoirs written by Neil Simon at Rugby Theatre from 10-17 May. Directed by Darren Pratt.

Review by Ann Evans

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon was all about memories from the English south coast. But nothing could be further from the truth. Brighton Beach is an area of Brooklyn, New York, where we meet the American-Jewish Jerome family. The year is 1937 and America is emerging from the Great Depression, only to have World War II looming on the horizon.

Brothers Stanley (Archie Parker) and Eugene (Daniel Faulkner). Photo by Martin Pulley.

The story opens with Eugene (Daniel Faulkner) playing baseball on his own, up against the wall of their house lost in his daydreams of being a star player for the New York Yankees. From the very start, Daniel Faulkner is believable, likeable and word-perfect in this fast-talking imaginary existence of his. Throughout the play Eugene is the narrator, talking directly to the audience, and it’s lively and amusing to see the world through the eyes of a 15-year-old boy whose main interest is baseball, writing and girls – in particular his cousin Nora who with her little sister and widowed mother lives with them.

Sisters Laurie (Dorrit Davies) and Nora (Mairead O'Kelly). Photo by Martin Pulley.

The setting for this play is cleverly done, making use of the space and height of the stage: two bedrooms, a staircase, the living room, a dining room where much of the conversation takes place as the family sit down together for their meals; plus an outside space where the family come and go - and Eugene practises his baseball.

At the heart of the home is mother, Kate Jerome played perfectly by Michele Goode. She's a no-nonsense mother with some great one-liners - "Eugene stop shouting I've got a cake in the oven!" The love she clearly has for all her family, comes across in a brusque manner as she holds this family together as one problem after another arises.

Kate and Jack (Michele Goode and Kenny Robinson). Photo by Martin Pulley.

Kate's husband - and the boys' father is Jack, played compassionately by Kenny Robinson, loved and respected by both Eugene and his older brother 18-year-old Stanley (Archie Parker) - a more worldly-wise young man whose principles are threatening to get him fired from his job.

Kate’s younger sister is Blanche Morton (Tracy Seymour), who moved in with her two daughters when her husband died aged just 26. Her eldest daughter is Nora (Mairead O’Kelly) now aged 16 and Laurie (Dorrit Davies) aged13 who was born with a weakness to her heart, and as such is wrapped in cotton wool by the rest of the family.

Blanche (Tracy Seymour) and Nora (Mairead O'Kelly). Photo by Martin Pulley.

Nora arrives home wildly excited to tell her family that a Broadway produced has invited her to audition for a role that could bring her fame and fortune. She sees a bright future where she can really help her family financially – the only problem is it means dropping out of school – and that decision lies with her mum and her Uncle Jack.

When Jack comes home weary from working so hard to keep the family well fed and with a roof over their heads, he has bad news to tell his wife - the company he works for has gone bust. For Kate, this is just one more problem that she will cope with, and takes it all in her stride, burying her own emotions as she looks after her family and keeps the meals coming.

Father and son, Jack (Kenny Robinson) and Stanley (Archie Parker). Photo by Martin Pulley.

The script is witty and humorous and while life is certainly not a walk in the park for this typical family of the time, the love that they all have for each other in all its forms, feels real and touching, as do the problems, the frustrations, the arguments and fights, and only when Kate breaks down and cries do we see that she really is the backbone of this family.

This is a ‘coming of age’ story – a mix of comedy and pathos; a well-structured story that is acted superbly by every member of the cast. A clever set that worked well without any scenery changes. Music that helped conjure up the emotion of nostalgia even though pre-war New York probably isn't part of the average Rugby theatre-goer's background; and costumes that were authentic so that somehow this very ordinary American family reached out and touched you. Despite the problems they faced, the love and loyalty make you hope for a truly happy ending.

No spoilers, but I think it's fair to say that everyone left Rugby Theatre with a smile on their faces.

Brighton Beach Memoirs runs from 10-17 May, with discounted Early Bird £14 tickets available for the Monday - Wednesday shows. Tickets are available from the Rugby Theatre box office on 01788 541234, and via www.rugbytheatre.co.uk