Our play for May was “The Prisoner of Second Avenue”. This was another play by Neil Simon, written in the 1970’s.
The story revolves around the escalating problems of a middle-aged couple living on Second Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City. Mel Edison has lost his job after 22 years and struggles to cope with being unemployed. The action occurs during an intense summer heat wave and a prolonged garbage strike. Edison's plight is made worse as he and his wife Edna deal with noisy and argumentative neighbours, loud sounds emanating from Manhattan streets up to their apartment, and a broad-daylight burglary of their apartment. When Mel can't find a job, Edna goes back to work. Mel eventually suffers a nervous breakdown, a prisoner of his own mind and the Second Avenue apartment that is their home. His brother, sisters and mostly Edna to try to restore him to a new reality.
This is a two-act play, set in the apartment. Most of the action involves only Mel and Edna. The other roles were quite minor in comparison. For the play reading we swapped parts between Acts 1 and 2. This gave more class members an opportunity to take a role.
We always enjoy Neil Simon plays, and this was no exception. While it is the story of the struggles and mental breakdown, there are moments of lightness that helped make the play less depressing. It did bring out the issues of mental breakdown, hence the title “The Prisoner of Second Street”.
As with other plays we have read lately, it also covered some issues that are still causing concern today, things like materialism (they did not need all the useless nick-nacks), $2 items in $3 of packaging.
The dynamics between the siblings was interesting – the different characters were brought out well. One other notable point was the way Mel and Edna’s roles were reversed when he could not find a job. He showed no recognition that when he was working, she was facing the same issues he faced once he was “stuck” at home – a prisoner in their apartment on Second Street.
From Shirley Swallow - "The play for June is Room to Move by Hannie Rayson. We’ve read a few of hers over the years and they are usually quite amusing and enjoyable."
Joy Shirley
The story revolves around the escalating problems of a middle-aged couple living on Second Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City. Mel Edison has lost his job after 22 years and struggles to cope with being unemployed. The action occurs during an intense summer heat wave and a prolonged garbage strike. Edison's plight is made worse as he and his wife Edna deal with noisy and argumentative neighbours, loud sounds emanating from Manhattan streets up to their apartment, and a broad-daylight burglary of their apartment. When Mel can't find a job, Edna goes back to work. Mel eventually suffers a nervous breakdown, a prisoner of his own mind and the Second Avenue apartment that is their home. His brother, sisters and mostly Edna to try to restore him to a new reality.
This is a two-act play, set in the apartment. Most of the action involves only Mel and Edna. The other roles were quite minor in comparison. For the play reading we swapped parts between Acts 1 and 2. This gave more class members an opportunity to take a role.
We always enjoy Neil Simon plays, and this was no exception. While it is the story of the struggles and mental breakdown, there are moments of lightness that helped make the play less depressing. It did bring out the issues of mental breakdown, hence the title “The Prisoner of Second Street”.
As with other plays we have read lately, it also covered some issues that are still causing concern today, things like materialism (they did not need all the useless nick-nacks), $2 items in $3 of packaging.
The dynamics between the siblings was interesting – the different characters were brought out well. One other notable point was the way Mel and Edna’s roles were reversed when he could not find a job. He showed no recognition that when he was working, she was facing the same issues he faced once he was “stuck” at home – a prisoner in their apartment on Second Street.
From Shirley Swallow - "The play for June is Room to Move by Hannie Rayson. We’ve read a few of hers over the years and they are usually quite amusing and enjoyable."
Joy Shirley
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