Lost in Yonkers

Lost in Yonkers (1991), a play by Neil Simon. [ Richard Rodgers Theatre, 780 perf.; Pulitzer Prize; Tony Award.] Widower Eddie Kurnitz (Mark Blum) leaves his young sons Arty (Danny Gerard) and Jay (Jamie Marsh) in the care of his cold, ill‐tempered mother (Irene Worth) who runs a candy store in Yonkers. Grandma not only makes life miserable for the two boys but also verbally abuses her slightly retarded daughter Bella (Mercedes Ruehl) and scoffs at her small‐time crook of a son, Louis (Kevin Spacey). Bella finally stands up to her mother and life continues on with an icy understanding between the two. Generally applauded by the press, the Emanuel Azenberg production boasted superb performances (Worth, Ruehl, and Spacey all won Tonys) and acute direction by Gene Saks.

Neil Simon
1991

Marvin Neil Simon, who generally publishes as Neil Simon, first published Lost in Yonkers in the United States in 1991. The play, like many of Simon's plays, draws on his experiences growing up in New York City, although many critics think it is not as autobiographical as his other plays. Lost in Yonkers was a critical and popular success and led to a film adaptation in 1993. Although many of Simon's plays had won major dramatic awards before this, Lost in Yonkers was the first Simon play to win the Pulitzer Prize. Many critics consider the play to be Simon's best work and the pinnacle of his career.

The play was very timely. Although it is set during World War II — a setting that plays an important part in the narrative — Simon published the play as America was entering the Gulf War in the Middle East. As a result, the play's main themes — including survival, the importance of one's family, and acceptance — also seem timely, since these themes inevitably arise during any war or other military conflict, when death and other tragedies are likely. Although the play is technically labeled a comedy, it is in fact a hybrid. Critics note both the deep levels of pain that Simon explores in his characters and the humorous dialogue from certain characters, which ultimately helps the play to strike a balance between tragedy and comedy. Lost in Yonkers is available in a paperback version from Plume, which was published in 1993.

For the film, see Lost in Yonkers (film).

Lost in Yonkers
Original Broadway poster
Written by	Neil Simon
Characters	Bella Louie Grandma Kurnitz Eddie Arty Gert Jay
Date premiered	February 21, 1991
Place premiered	Richard Rodgers Theatre New York City, New York
Original language	English
Subject
Genre	Comedy
Setting	An apartment in Yonkers, New York, 1942
IBDB profile

Lost in Yonkers is a 1991 play by Neil Simon. After eleven previews, the Broadway production, produced by Emanuel Azenberg and directed by Gene Saks, opened on February 21, 1991 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where it ran for 780 performances. The original cast included Irene Worth as Grandma, Mercedes Ruehl as Bella, Kevin Spacey as Louie, Lauren Klein as Gert, Danny Gerard as Arty, Jamie Marsh as Jay, and Mark Blum as Eddie.

Contents 1 Plot synopsis 2 Film adaptation 3 Awards and nominations 4 References 5 External links

Plot synopsis

Lost in Yonkers is a coming of age tale that focuses on brothers Arty and Jay, left in the care of their Grandma Kurnitz and Aunt Bella in Yonkers, New York. Their desperate father, Eddie, works as a traveling salesman to pay off debts incurred following the death of his wife. Grandma is a severe, frightfully intimidating immigrant who terrified her children as they were growing up, damaging each of them to varying degrees. Bella is a sweet but mentally slow and highly excitable woman who longs to marry an usher at the local movie house so she can escape the oppressive household and create a life and family of her own. Her brother Louie is a small-time, tough-talking hoodlum who is on the run, while her sister Gert suffers from a breathing problem with causes more psychological than physical. Missing much of the sentimentality of the plays comprising Simon's earlier Eugene Trilogy, Lost in Yonkers climaxes with a dramatic confrontation between embittered mother and lonely daughter that creates a permanent fissure in this highly dysfunctional family.

Film adaptation

Main article: Lost in Yonkers (film)

Simon adapted his play for a 1993 feature film directed by Martha Coolidge. Worth and Ruehl reprised their stage roles, and Richard Dreyfuss was cast as Louie. Bella's beau Johnny, an unseen character in the play, was portrayed by David Strathairn.

Awards and nominations

Awards

• 1991 Drama Desk Award for Best New Play
• 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
• 1991 Tony Award for Best Play
• 1991 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play (Mercedes Ruehl)
• 1991 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play (Irene Worth)
• 1991 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play (Kevin Spacey)

References

• Frank Rich (22 February 1991). "Review/Theater: Simon on Love Denied". The New York Times. http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?html_title=&tols_title=LOST%20IN%20YONKERS%20(PLAY)&pdate=19910222&byline=By%20FRANK%20RICH&id=1077011430624. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 

External links

• Lost in Yonkers at the Internet Broadway Database
• Lost in Yonkers at the Internet Movie Database

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v • d • e Tony Award for Best Play Travesties (1976) · The Shadow Box (1977) · Da (1978) · The Elephant Man (1979) · Children of a Lesser God (1980) · Amadeus (1981) · The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982) · Torch Song Trilogy (1983) · The Real Thing (1984) · Biloxi Blues (1985) · I'm Not Rappaport (1986) · Fences (1987) · M. Butterfly (1988) · The Heidi Chronicles (1989) · The Grapes of Wrath (1990) · Lost in Yonkers (1991) · Dancing at Lughnasa (1992) · Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (1993) · Angels in America: Perestroika (1994) · Love! Valour! Compassion! (1995) · Master Class (1996) · The Last Night of Ballyhoo (1997) · “Art” (1998) · Side Man (1999) · Copenhagen (2000) Complete list: (1948–1975) · (1976–2000) · (2001–present)

v • d • e Neil Simon Plays Come Blow Your Horn (1961) · Barefoot in the Park (1963) · The Odd Couple (1965) · The Star-Spangled Girl (1966) · Plaza Suite (1968) · The Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1969) · The Gingerbread Lady (1970) · The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1971) · The Sunshine Boys (1972) · The Good Doctor (1973) · God's Favorite (1974) · California Suite (1976) · Chapter Two (1977) · I Ought to Be in Pictures (1980) · Fools (1981) · The Odd Couple (female version) (1981) · Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983)  · Biloxi Blues (1985)  · Broadway Bound (1986)  · Rumors (1988) · Lost in Yonkers (1991) · Jake's Women (1992) · Laughter on the 23rd Floor (1993) · London Suite (1995) · Proposals (1997) · The Dinner Party (2000) · 45 Seconds from Broadway (2001) · Rose's Dilemma (2003)  · Oscar and Felix: A New Look at the Odd Couple (2004) Musicals Little Me (1962) · Sweet Charity (1966) · Promises, Promises (1968) · They're Playing Our Song (1979) · The Goodbye Girl (1993)

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