Brighton Beach Memoirs
at Coral Glades High School

Reviewed on November 15, 2019

Max Hsu
NSU University School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

In the words of Neil Simon, "If you can go through life without experiencing pain you probably haven't been born yet." Coral Glades' production of Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs brilliantly brings to life the struggles and pains of a poor Jewish family in the Great Depression, while contrapuntally telling the coming of age story of a young boy discovering himself as he goes through puberty.

Brighton Beach Memoirs is the first of three quasi-autobiographical plays by acclaimed playwright Neil Simon. First taking the Broadway stage in 1983, it takes place in Brooklyn, New York amidst the Great Depression of the 1930s. The story centers around Eugene Morris Jerome, a teenager who is forced to juggle the insecurities and uncertainties of puberty with the hardships of the pre-war era. As he grows up, his family breaks down, and with a head full of fantasies of naked girls, playing for the New York Yankees, and being a professional writer, he learns to cope with the monotony of life.

The relationships between the cast as a whole felt incredibly real, as if these characters really were a family with years of history. In moments where the scene focused on one or two characters, those in the background remained in character, helping to immerse the audience into the world. Despite many issues with sound, such as recurring feedback throughout the show and issues with microphones, the cast handled it professionally such that it did not break the audience's immersion.

Matthew Dell-Hak expertly portrayed the role of Eugene with all the innocence and curiosity that the role demands. While many actors in comedic plays tend to sacrifice believability in favor of humor, Dell-Hak perfectly balanced genuine teenage awkwardness with over the top hilarity. Dell-Hak must also be commended for the growth that he portrayed in his character, as it was evident that each event of the story made an impact on Eugene.

Tai Beasley as Eugene's mother Kate brought a motherly sincerity to the role which helped to counteract the comedy of Eugene. Joshua Flynn (Stanley) displayed impressive range in his acting, having some of the funniest moments in the show as well as some of the most emotional. Caleb Ramsey as Eugene's father Jack balanced cool-tempered maturity when talking to Stanley with fiery anger in scenes with Kate and Blanche. As Nora, Julyette Vargas had such a contagious enthusiasm that the audience could not help but root for her success.

Jamie Metoyer must be commended for her work on costumes, the period correct costumes were crucial to creating the environment of 1930s New York. The use of real food and real lit matches on behalf of props designer Brielle Bickford also helped to draw the audience in, and the student-designed set included some nice touches like a mezuzah on the door frame. The layout of the set was well thought out to serve the purpose of the story.

Whether two brothers are discussing their pubescent sexual awakenings or two sisters having a heated argument about the man across the street, Coral Glades production of Brighton Beach Memoirs remains consistent in its energetic, intimate, and thoroughly hilarious performance.

Roie Dahan
American Heritage School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

1937 America was in turmoil; the Great Depression was at its height, drying out the economy and citizen's jobs and incomes, and tensions in Europe escalated to the peak of World War II. In Coral Glades' production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs", the problems the Jerome and Morton families faced were commendably played out, incorporating the broader historical dilemmas of the time.

Written by Neil Simon, "Brighton Beach Memoirs" tells the story of Eugene Morris Jerome and his family in their home on Brighton Beach, where they are not too short of familial and fiscal predicaments; not to mention Eugene's own confusion about his new feelings. Simon wrote the play in a semi-autobiographical style, so many of his own adolescent experiences are woven into it. Opening in 1982 in Los Angeles, the show has since been on Broadway twice, won two Tonys, and made into a motion picture.

Playing Eugene, Matthew Dell-Hak brought an air of optimism and laughter onto the stage amidst the family's tough situation. His impeccable comedic line delivery and fluctuations of speech brought a nice contrast to the heavy themes of the play, emulating Simon's intentions of embedding comedy into hardship. Although Eugene gradually matured throughout the show, Dell-Hak was consistently able to implement his childlike demeanor and sense of wonder. Tai Beasley upheld the role of the brazen Kate Jerome with distinct poise and strength, which enhanced her eventual meltdown, helping to create a full character arc. She maintained a robust yet motherly presence that increased the believability of her character and had seemingly genuine connections with her fellow family members.

Joshua Flynn played Eugene's pragmatic yet disheveled brother Stanley Jerome with a charismatic charm that gave way to a vulnerable, anxious center. He had a profound connection with Eugene, particularly when he taught him about the wonders of puberty. His calm yet distressed temperament was enhanced by strong characterization choices that showed pronounced shifts in his personality. Playing the spunky Nora Morton, Julyette Vargas was always present on stage, showcasing Nora's boldness and fierce independence. Her distinct intonation and understanding of her situation played into the credibility of her character and intensified her motivations and reactions .

Despite having some issues with momentum and heightened stakes during climactic scenes, the company was nevertheless able to present an engaging and heartfelt performance. Their notable chemistry with one another elevated the story, exhibiting a true family dynamic. Implementing the Mezuzah was a great way to encompass the family's Jewish traditions.

Technically, the show must be commended for the amount of student input and historical accuracy, most prominent in hair, makeup, and costumes. They successfully emulated the style of the period with pin-up hairdos and colorful patterned dresses. Although somewhat lackluster in detail, the concept of the set's design and construction served the flow of this production effectively.

Coral Glades' production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" presented the complications of late 1930's America while resonating with real family issues still being dealt with in today's world.

Jaime Happel
J.P. Taravella High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Everyone has problems, but when we are blinded by our own troubles, sometimes it is easy to forget that we must take others into consideration. Amidst all the chaos, sometimes blaming those who surround us becomes easier than deciding to do the right thing. Coral Glades Drama's production of the timeless classic, "Brighton Beach Memoirs," beautifully balances the harsh realities of life with glimmers of love and playful humor.

"Brighton Beach Memoirs," a semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon, dissects the familial struggles of a financially unstable Jewish family residing in New York during the 1930s. The comedy had its Broadway debut in March of 1983 at the Alvin Theatre, and won two Tony Awards later, that same year. The play is the first chapter of what is known as the Eugene trilogy—which also included Simon's "Biloxi Blues" and "Broadway Bound." Each play in the trilogy attests to Simon's unique experiences throughout his early career and life.

Matthew Dell-Hak portrayed Eugene Jerome, a hormonal teen and dedicated Yankees fan that aspires to become a writer. Dell-Hak's committed character choices, such as his quirky physicality and varying vocal inflection, made him an endearing narrator for Neil Simon's memoirs. His strong comedic timing elevated interactions between Eugene and his family members, especially with his brother, Stanley (Joshua Flynn). The camaraderie between Flynn and Dell-Hak produced a believable sense of brotherhood that was both heartwarming and relatable.

Truly emphasizing the tension within the Jerome family is Eugene and Stanley's mother, Kate (Tai Beasley). While Beasley's captivating character develops throughout the production, her motherly intonation remains a pleasant constant. Kate's sister, Blanche (Shelby Stott), and husband, Jack (Caleb Ramey), both exhibited powerful emotions accompanied by mature mannerisms in order to authentically distinguish themselves in terms of age. Julyette Vargas and Heidi Gruenbaum depicted Eugene's cousins, Nora and Laurie respectively. Vargas' bright energy drove each scene, and Gruenbaum's demur demeanor complimented her honest character well.

The cast commendably functioned as a singular unit; even when their characters may have been consumed with their own conflicts, the strength of the family was still evident. The distinct relationships created between each pair of characters were furthered by their interactions in the background of scenes; the ensemble proved that they had a clear understanding of their roles and helped to communicate the riveting complexities of the characters' family dynamic. There was a great attention to detail from both cast and crew. With the exception of some microphone issues, the show ran rather smoothly. While, at times, there was a lack of variation in lighting, the space was well utilized to invent both an indoor and outdoor environment and the overall atmosphere of the production was enhanced by clean, time-period-appropriate, student-made costumes.

Coral Glades Drama's production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" reminds us that although sometimes the hardest decisions may be the most important to make, growing up may be confusing, and life may bring unexpected complications, through it all, family will always be there.

Rylee Berger
Cooper City High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Money is tight, war is brewing, families are fighting, jobs are hard to come by, and - perhaps worst of all for Eugene - he's going through puberty. Thus sets the stage for Coral Glades High School's hilarious and heartfelt production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs."

Written by Pulitzer-prize-winning playwright Neil Simon, the semi-autobiographical play is the first chapter in his Eugene Trilogy. After productions in California, "Brighton Beach Memoirs" opened on the Great White Way in 1983, where it enjoyed a three-year run, becoming the last non-musical play in Broadway history to have over 1,000 performances. Following the girl- and baseball-crazed Eugene, the coming-of-age comedy concerns his unusually hectic Brooklyn, NY household as they navigate changing family dynamics, the Great Depression, and world-wide political turmoil.

Matthew Dell-Hak delivered an energetic and memorable performance as the sassy-yet-sincere Eugene. His powerful performance showed great range and impressive development of his character's arc. As the character also serves as the narrator of the play, Dell-Hak did an exceptional job differentiating between dialogue with other actors on stage and his asides to the audience. His clear commitment to his character shone through his choices in physicality and vocal delivery; his ability to allow his character to believably mature throughout the show was commendable.

Depicting Eugene's worrisome, superhero of a mother, Tai Beasley (Kate) embodied her role with grace. Beasley balanced the mannerisms of a busy caretaker while still creating a character that, when pushed to her breaking point, delivered a persuasive and heart-wrenching performance. As Jack, the workaholic father who wants only for his family to be provided for, Caleb Ramey portrayed a highly convincing paternalistic physicality and authority when interacting with the other characters. His ability to evolve his relationships with his sons, especially Stanley (Joshua Flynn), was noteworthy. Flynn himself did an excellent job establishing a powerful and multilayered relationship.

Overall, the entire cast did a stellar job in creating authentic family dynamics. Each relationship was distinct from the next. This was especially prevalent in scenes where the characters would argue with each other, showcasing their understanding of these complex relationships. Moreover, the pacing of the play was remarkable and transitions between the show's several serious and silly situations were smooth. Though some actors' facial expressions were lost, the blocking was clearly motivated and was fluid throughout.

The technical elements of the play were well-designed. The set provided a nice playing space for the actors and the props were believable and paid great attention to detail. However, the costumes could have better demonstrated the family's economic status and the hair and makeup could have more sharply differentiated characters' age. There were occasional microphone errors but the sound effects, however minimal, were effective.

With genuine acting and astonishing familial dynamics, Coral Glades High School's production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" shows masterful balance between tragedy and comedy, accentuating that, even when it hurts, laughing is always the best medicine.

Savannah Correa
West Broward High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Growing up is hard to do, especially as a 15 year old Polish-Jewish American boy in 1937 Brooklyn. In Coral Glades Drama's production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, we follow Eugene Jerome (Matthew Dell-Hak) in Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical play based on his early teen years as he documents the trials and tribulations of all things awkward and uncomfortable.

Brighton Beach Memoirs is the first part of playwright Neil Simon's autobiographical trilogy. In this coming of age comedy, we see the world from our main character Eugene's perspective in his day to day life with a booming family of seven: strict mother Kate (Tai Beasley), widowed aunt Blanche (Shelby Stott), overworked father Jack (Caleb Ramey), older brother Stanley (Joshua Flynn), and cousins Nora (Julyette Vargas) and Laurie (Heidi Gruenbaum). It debuted on Broadway March 27th, 1983 at the Alvin Theatre, and was picked up once again in 2009 in the Nederlander Theatre. The play is the winner of Tony Awards including Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play and Best Direction of a Play.

The actors in Coral Glades' production of Brighton Beach Memoirs had a great sense of sibling dynamics, however the relationship between Stanley and Eugene was the most entertaining to watch unfold. Duet scenes with these two characters played an essential part in some of the most important parts of the story, but was also essential in Eugene learning about less family friendly topics his other family members would not be able to comfortably talk to him about. Dell-Hak's portrayal of Eugene was more than immersive, providing most of the comedy in the show and was very convincing as a 15 year old boy. As the storyteller it is important to keep your audience intrigued and help the plot move along smoothly, and he did just that.

As for our supporting characters, Caleb Ramey was very convincing as his role of a father figure, from the authoritative tone in his voice to his mannerisms. Eugene's father/Uncle Jack is a character the other family members appreciate and look up to due to his kind, hardworking, and generous nature, and Ramey did more than a good job of emphasizing those loving qualities. Kate (Tai Beasley) was extremely convincing as not only a mother, but as an overprotective older sister. One scene in particular that really showcased their ranges was a heated argument involving the three. The actors maintained their intensity with great pacing and physicality, as well as with minor details such as shaking hands and legs, and fidgeting.

For technical aspects, hair and costumes were very much time accurate. Though there could have been more costume changes to pinpoint economic status and indicate when time has changed, they still managed to add to the plot and their characters and made the setting more believable. Sound was inconsistent at times, but actors powered through with great projection.

Needless to say, Coral Glades' production of Brighton Beach Memoirs was a home run. Tune up the radio and get ready to listen to a story you'll never forget, and prepare to be entertained.

Levi Cole
NSU University School
Submitted for publication to American Heritage

Being a teenager is challenging enough as is, but with the addition of the hardships of the Great Depression and the looming possibility of war, any teen's life would become drastically more difficult. In Coral Glades' production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, Eugene Morris Jerome must face the adversity of growing up while simultaneously coping with consistent family conflict and the political and economic turmoil of the times.

Written by illustrious comedic playwright Neil Simon, Brighton Beach Memoirs is a semi-autobiographical comedy which first debuted on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in 1983. The story follows young Eugene Morris Jerome and his family as they struggle to stay afloat financially and keep the family from breaking apart. With an amazing balance of drama and comedy, Brighton Beach Memoirs perfectly captures the troubles of adolescence.

As Eugene, the awkward but lovable teen protagonist, Matthew Dell-Hak displayed tremendous comedic timing and character development. Dell-Hak expertly balanced comedy with drama, demonstrating his outstanding range. His mannerisms and physicality brought Eugene to life. Dell-Hak remained in character, even when Eugene was not the center of attention. Dell-Hak formed impressively believable relationships with the rest of the Jerome family, notably with his brother Stanley, further exhibiting his talent.

Tai Beasley did an extraordinary job of presenting a vast array of emotions as Kate, Eugene's sweet yet strict mother. Beasley's amazing diction and intonation added to her impressive understanding of her character. Similar to Dell-Hak, Beasley consistently remained in character, when the focus of attention and when not, demonstrated by her well thought out physicality and mannerisms. Portraying Eugene's older brother Stanley, Joshua Flynn perfectly captured his character. Flynn demonstrated his vast acting range, showing his ability as a comic and dramatic actor. The dynamic between Stanley and his younger brother displayed amazing chemistry between the two actors, resulting in some of the most memorable moments of the production. Caleb Ramey, portraying Eugene's father, Jack, showed incredible commitment and understanding of his role, demonstrated by his physicality. He accurately portrayed the understanding and authoritative nature of his character, resulting in a memorable and powerful performance. As Nora, Eugene's ambitious and stubborn older cousin, Julyette Vargas demonstrated her extensive acting range. Vargas showed commendable commitment and character development throughout the production, while also creating believable and captivating relationships with other characters.

The Jerome family as a whole had an incredible dynamic and collaborated extremely well together. They possessed a beautiful chemistry onstage, resulting in a remarkable collaborative performance. Despite continuous sound and microphone issues, the cast maintained their energy and never allowed the audience's immersion to falter.

All of the costumes in this production were expertly designed and constructed by Jamie Metoyer. The costumes perfectly fit into the 1930's New York setting and fit the actors very well. Brielle Bickford must also be commended for props. The use of real food was extremely clever and added authenticity to vital scenes of the production.

Coral Glades' production of Brighton Beach Memoirs was packed with humor, touching family connections, effective technical elements, and memorable performances, accurately encapsulating the trials and tribulations of growing up.