Synopsis

 

Brighton Beach Memoirs, a semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon is set in 1937 against the backdrop of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York, during the Great Depression.  A coming of age story told through the eyes of the main character Eugene Morris Jerome, a Jewish teenager who dreams of being a writer, and his relationship with his family. It is the first play in Simon’s Eugene trilogy including Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound.

 

This is a non-union, non paying production.

 

Eugene Jerome- Must be able to play a 15 year old - A fifteen year old student, Jack and Kate’s son, and Stanley’s younger brother. Eugene

                                                                                  is at the center of the play, observing and taking part in the action and commenting

                                                                                  directly to the audience about what’s going on and what’s already happened. Eugene
                                                                                  dreams of becoming either a writer or a baseball player, and often spins out elaborate
                                                                                  fantasies of himself in these roles. Eugene is going through puberty and thinks about
                                                                                  girls frequently, particularly his cousin Nora. He learns about growing up from Stanley,
                                                                                  whom he idolizes.

 

Jacob “Jack” Jerome 40-45 - A middle-aged working man, Kate’s husband, and Eugene and Stanley’s father. Jack is a responsible family
                                               man, holding down two jobs so he can support his own family and his sister-in -law Blanche’s including his
                                               two nieces who live with them. He is the patriarch of both families since his brother-in-law Dave died.  His
                                               hard work makes him look older than his 40 years and he suffers a minor heart attack that forces him to take
                                               several weeks off work. Aside from his own family’s problems, Jack worries about the rise of Hitler in Europe
                                               and how it will impact his Jewish relatives in Poland.

 

Kate Jerome 40-45 - A middle-aged housewife, Jack’s wife, Blanche’s sister, and Eugene and Stanley’s mother. Kate has spent her entire life
                                 taking care of others – first her parents, and now her husband and kids, as well as her sister’s family. She manages the
                                 household on little money but lets her husband Jack make the important decisions for the family. Kate feels like she
                                 has given up things in her own life for those she loves but she has repressed this anger for decades.

 

Blanche Morton 38-42 - Kate’s younger sister, and Nora and Laurie’s mother, Blanche has been widowed for six years, and after her husband
                                      left her with no money, she was forced to depend upon Kate and Jack’s charity for the support of her and her
                                      daughters. Blanche is unable to get a job due to her poor eyesight and asthma, but she takes in sewing at home to
                                      help pay for Nora’s dance lessons. Blanche has never truly been independent but realizes that she needs to learn to
                                      take care of herself and her daughters.

 

Stanley Jerome– Must be able to play an 18 year old – Eighteen year old Stanley, Jack and Kate’s son, and Eugene’s older brother, went to
                                                                                    work straight after high school to help support his family. He tries to live by the
                                                                                    principles of fairness and risks his job standing up for a fellow employee. Stanley
                                                                                    also is his brother’s confidante for issues and questions surrounding sexuality. He
                                                                                    believes he has let his family down when he loses his salary gambling but by the end
                                                                                    of the play, Stanley comes to realize that he can’t run away from his problems and
                                                                                    needs to grow up and take responsibility.

 

Nora Morton – Must be able to play a 16 year old - Nora, Blanche’s older daughter has spent many years studying dance and wants to be a
                                                                              performer on stage. She is angry when her mother Blanche follows Jack’s advice not to
                                                                              let her audition for a Broadway musical. Nora resents her mother’s inability to make the
                                                                              decision on her own or let her be part of the process, and she longs for more
                                                                              independence. Nora misses her father and feels like her mother neither pays attention
                                                                              to her nor shows her love.

 

Laurie Morton – Must be able to play a 13 year old - A thirteen-year-old student, Blanche’s daughter, and Nora’s sister. Laurie has been
                                                                                 diagnosed with a weak heart, so her mother believes she is fragile and keeps her in
                                                                                 the house. Laurie uses her weak heart to get out of chores and has few responsibilities
                                                                                 to the household. Laurie spends her time reading and studying. She has few memories
                                                                                 of her father.

 

 

To book an audition, please send your resume and headshot and indicate the role you are auditioning for to Lynn Weintraub at: lweintraub@rogers.com.  Actors selected for an audition will be contacted and given a time and the location.

 

Actors will be required to prepare a short monologue and/or readings from the play.

 

Thank you for your interest in Teatron Toronto Jewish Theatre’s production of Brighton Beach Memoirs.

 

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