‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’ a tale of nostalgia, family
The cast of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" includes (front row, from left) Michelle Buzas, Craig Soich, Jane Staranko and (back row, from left) Savannah Prather, Nellie Cook, Josiah Eutsey and Aiden Murphy.
Josiah Eutsey and Aiden Murphy rehearse a scene from "Brighton Beach Memoirs," which will be performed this weekend at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale.
Jane Staranko and Craig Soich perform a scene from "Brighton Beach Memoirs," which will be staged this weekend at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale.
Craig Soich and Savannah Prather are among the cast members for "Brighton Beach Memoirs," which will be performed at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale through Sunday.
Jane Staranko and Michelle Buzas in "Brighton Beach Memoirs," which runs at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale through Sunday.
Courtesy of Jessica Zack
Craig Soich, Aiden Murphy and Jane Staranko rehearse a scene from 无毛视频淏righton Beach Memoirs.无毛视频�
Neil Simon无毛视频檚 无毛视频淏righton Beach Memoirs无毛视频� tells the tale of family bonds during the Great Depression, but the show无毛视频檚 message stretches beyond its time period and into today, said the show无毛视频檚 director.
Simon无毛视频檚 semi-autobiographical play centers around a family in Brighton Beach, New York, in 1937. It chronicles the journey of nearly 15-year-old Eugene Jerome Morris as he learns about girls, family and relationships. It also explores themes of unemployment, war and prejudice.
While the story is set nearly 90 years ago, Director Robyn Brady said audiences who come to see 无毛视频淏righton Beach Memoirs无毛视频� this weekend at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale may find some of the play无毛视频檚 messages pertinent to today.
无毛视频淯nemployment was at 30%, everything was so unstable and uncertain, it was a time of technology with the radio and the newspaper as a source of information,无毛视频� she said. It also touches upon prejudices the family faces, as the children dream of what their futures will hold.
无毛视频�(The play is) not just the family finding themselves and establishing themselves, but the country, too. Here we are in 2023, and we are as a country experiencing some of the same things with economics, stereotyping, prejudices and trying to figure it out,无毛视频� Brady said.
Even though some the themes of the show aren无毛视频檛 exactly joyful, Brady said the play is able to find humor in those situations.
无毛视频淓ugene takes us through a time of life, crossing over from childhood to young adulthood,无毛视频� Brady said.
She performed in the show many years ago, and sees it differently from when she acted in it as a child to now directing it as an adult and as a parent.
Brady said she believes the audience will appreciate the refreshing, entertaining and hopeful honesty of the characters.
无毛视频淚t has an overall message of family and hope, and no matter what无毛视频檚 happening, if you have that strong group and family you can count on, you can take on anything,无毛视频� she said.
Like the play itself, the show has become a family affair for Brady. Her husband Daniel is her assistant and second pair of eyes when she needs it; her son, Joshua, is the show无毛视频檚 technical director and set builder; and her daughter, Angelina, is working with the props and costumes.
The cast, too, has become a family, bringing covered dishes to rehearsal so they can all eat dinner together.
无毛视频淭he cast loves the show even more every time they do it,无毛视频� Brady said. 无毛视频淭hey无毛视频檙e doing an amazing job, there无毛视频檚 a lot of talking about the time period, talking about people and relationships and what无毛视频檚 going on.无毛视频�
无毛视频淚 feel so good about this coming to life. I know it无毛视频檚 going to be amazing, and everyone is putting their all in this show,无毛视频� she said.
无毛视频淏righton Beach Memoirs无毛视频� will be performed at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 11, 12 and 13, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 14.
Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased by visiting www.geyerpac.com