'Brighton Beach Memoirs' at Seven Angels - My Review

Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury opened their 24th season with a bang this weekend with preview performances of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs. Artistic Director Semina De Laurentis directed this perfectly cast play that has been in rehearsal for countless hours over the last two weeks.

The two-act play is the first chapter in Simon’s semi-autobiographical Eugene trilogy. It precedes Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound. The action in Brighton Beach is set in Brooklyn, NY in 1937. It is a coming of age comedy that focuses on fifteen year old Eugene Morris Jerome (played by fifteen year old Carey Cannata.) Eugene is a Polish-Jewish American teen who is entering puberty, dreaming of girls and baseball, and searching for his identity as he deals with his extended family in a crowded, lower middle class walkup. During the play he breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience to offer his take on the action; these lines are among the play’s funniest.

Mr. Cannata has appeared on the Seven Angels stage in Over the Tavern and 13 The Musical (which he reminded us is “another coming of age story about a Jewish boy, go figure!”) I couldn’t help feeling that I have watched him grow up on their stage. He is the perfect Eugene, with spot on comic timing and mature acting ability that his director has encouraged him to use well.

Broadway actress Sarah Knapp returns to this theater to play Mr. Cannata’s formidable mother, just as she did so well in Over the Tavern. She is just as strong in the role of Kate and the chemistry between the two is delightful to watch. Another Broadway vet is Michael Iannucci as her overworked husband Jack, the family patriarch who loves and takes care of everyone in the house.

Robert Mueller plays the worldly older brother and has great chemistry with Mr. Cannata. The heart he brings to role of Stanley role is palpable. Lauren Devine (Mary Kenny in Do Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?) returns to Waterbury to play young cousin Nora and CT native and Halo Award winner Hannah Hartmann convincingly plays younger as the sickly Laurie. The girls widowed mother Blanche is played with heartbreaking intensity by Elizabeth Donnelly.

The two level set, which the director described as being 95% complete and was designed by Technical Director Daniel Husvar, seemed cramped on the Seven Angels stage, and perhaps that was the point. I liked the details that Mr. Husvar added to the props and the stage was lit well (especially on the upper level) by Scott Andrew Cally. The costumes by Vivianna Lamb were appropriate to the period. There were some sound issues that did not interrupt the flow of the performances.

I really enjoyed the humor in this play, and I also liked the poignant storyline (think The Goodbye Girl.) There is some adult humor and I did not see any young students at this preview performance, but I would think it would be appropriate for teens. Brighton Beach Memoirs runs through October 19.

Special Nights and Matinees:
9/7 Post Show Cast Party
10/2 Beer and Pizza Night
10/3 1/2 Price Drink Night
10/4 Mimosa Matinee
10/10 Sweet Maria’s Night
10/11 Fascia’s Chocolate Night
10/17 Wine and Martini Night
10/18 Micro Brew Night (new)
10/19 Sundaes on Sunday