Broadway Bound

While the first two plays in the late Neil Simon’s semi-autobiographical "Eugene Jerome" trilogy—Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues—were turned into feature films, the final play went directly to the small screen as a made-for-TV 1992 production scripted by Simon. Corey Parker takes the role of Eugene while Jonathan Silverman (who played Eugene in the original Broadway production) is Eugene’s older brother Stanley. (Matthew Broderick was Eugene on stage in the first two plays in the trilogy.) Both boys aspire to write comedy for radio and TV (much to the consternation of their father) and they turn to their own family for inspiration—including the breakdown of their parents’ marriage—to do their first radio sketch. Anne Bancroft is their optimistic mother, while Jerry Orbach brings a weary sadness and resignation to his role as their father, a man who neglects his wife to look after an ailing former lover. And Hume Cronyn won an Emmy for his performance as the feisty grandfather who never seems to get Eugene’s brand of humor. The production is set almost entirely in a Brooklyn apartment and directed by TV veteran Paul Bogart like a piece of theater—intimate and cutoff from the surrounding world (except for the radio), while Simon preserves the stylized theatrical dialogue. Fans of Simon and Broadway should appreciate the faithfulness to the source but others may find the drama a little too low-key. Presented in both the original 90-minute broadcast version and an extended 94-minute cut, this is a strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)