Neil Simon, the Most Successful Playwright in The History of Theatre
"It can be argued that Neil Simon is not only America's most successful playwright, but also the most successful playwright in the history of theatre."1
Despite being criticized for lack of substance, his hugely successful comedies are consistently revived, whether on Broadway or in other community or dinner theatres. Last week the University of Notre Dame's Mainstage season opened with the departmental premiere of Barefoot in the Park. Though the play originally opened more then thirty years ago, the themes of compatibility and compromise that it presents are still relevant today. Simon masterfully manipulated the plot of Barefoot in the Park to include all of the elements of a fine play
(intrigue, credibility, surprise, etc.) and to create a viable playscript that both emphasizes the play's major themes and, just as importantly, makes the audience laugh.
Simon has skillfully constructed the plot of Barefoot in the Park to showcase and emphasize his themes of compatibility and need for compromise. The plot itself starts out fairly simple. In the first act, Paul and Corie Bratter, wed but six days, move into their new apartment on the top floor of a brownstone in New York City. From the very first, the audience can see that these are two very different characters that have very different values, and yet Paul and
Corie are very much in love. The plot progresses as other characters are introduced. First to visit the newlyweds is Corie's mother, Mrs. Banks. The relationship between Corie and her mother also involves a clash of very distinct personalities. With the appearance of the Bratter's eccentric upstairs neighbor,
Victor Velasco, Corie sees the opportunity to play matchmaker and inject a little romance into her staid mother's life. The first act concludes with
Corie's plan to bring the two together at an upcoming dinner party, much to the chagrin of her husband Paul. This creates intrigue--"that quality of a play which makes us curious (sometimes fervently so) to see 'what happens next'"2-- because the audience is left wondering whether Corie's plan will work. Thus the first act provides exposition, creates a feeling of suspense, and begins to showcase the compatibility problems in the relationships of several of the characters. The second act takes place in two parts: the first before Corie's dinner party, and the second in the aftermath. Throughout the first part of the act,
Simon emphasizes the enthusiasm, spontaneity, and lack of forethought with which
Corie approaches her matchmaking task. Paul, on the other hand, acts like "a stuffed shirt"3 and tries to show Corie the foolishness of her plan.
Both constitutional and social developments greatly changed the United States to a revolutionary proportion between 1860 and 1877. The new amendments and the fight for civil rights altered the previous way of life and forever changed American society. Inequality, fear, and corruption sent the United States into turmoil that would transform the country and lead to a revolution of change.
shall firstly do a summery of the play and give a basic image of what
America’s form of representative democracy came as a result of the transgressions Britain committed against their colonies. Several hundred years of salutary neglect served well for those living an ocean away from their motherland. Realizing the prosperity that colonies had obtained through a semi-free market society, the King of England and the parliament began enacting many taxes and acts. Taking away the colonies freedom was unsettling amongst the colonists and eventually led to a revolution. This revolution secured freedom from Britain as well as founded a new nation with the first ever constitution. Although the process to achieve democracy in America was a long, laborious road the freedom, prosperity and equality of opportunity shared by those amongst the states could not be denied.
Richard Pryor has a key influence on many modern comedians because he took standup comedy to greater heights. Pryor is well-known for his colorful language and his efforts to knock down the racial barrier. He was such a shock to the world because he said things that no one dared.
... of the floral shop at the beginning of the play, I would have the stage set with very minimal set pieces to emphasize the absence of wealth. I would have a very apparent clock in the opening scene to emphasize the time slowly ticking by. I think that the emphasis should be on the plant and on the characters, not on an elaborate store or set pieces on the stage. The main set piece should be the elaboration of the plant as it grows and thrives. Nothing should take away from this. I think that the absence of unnecessary props will allow the audience members to interpret the underdevelopment of Skid Row and also concentrate on the development of the plot and the character changes, especially in the case of Seymour and Audrey as they begin their relationship, which will cause the ending scene to be all the more dramatic when they both die at the hands of Audrey II.
Stephen Sondheim was born in New York on March 22, 1930. His mother was a fashion designer, and his father a dress manufacturer. At age ten, Sondheim’s parents divorced, and he moved to rural Pennsylvania with his mother shortly after (“Stephen Sondheim- Academy of Achievement”). In Pennsylvania, Stephen befriended his neighbor, James Hammerstein, as well as James’ parents Dorothy and Oscar. The Hammersteins would become like a second family to Stephen. He especially admired Oscar, a musical theatre giant, saying of the man, “I wanted to be whatever Oscar was… if Oscar had been a geologist, I would have become one too” (“The World of the Play: Stephen Sondheim”). Sondheim, mentored by Hammerstein, went on to study music and, eventually, became one of the most distinguished composers in musical theatre (“The World”). Stephen Sondheim’s writing redefined American musical theatre and inspired creativity among others in his field. He has worked on some of the most iconic modern musicals and continues to make meaningful contributions to the world of musical theatre (Miranda).
Anton Chekov was born in Taganrog, a port town in Rostov Oblast, Southern Russia on January 29, 1860. He was the third child born to Yevgenia Yakovlevna Morozov and Pavel Yegorovitch. Chekov grew up in a loving environment along with his five other siblings despite facing financial difficulties. Chekov and his siblings worked vigorously to help their father run his shop. However, the children still managed to enjoy their childhood by participating in social activities such as fishing, tennis as well as visiting their grandfather in the country. He attended the University of Moscow in 1879 to study medicine and graduated in 1884. He practiced medicine throughout the rest of his lifespan as well as picked up a career in writing and a well-developed social life. In the words of Anton Chekov he described his careers as “Medicine is [his] lawful wife and literature is [his] mistress. When [he] gets tired of one [he] spends the night with the other”. He continued to work to tend to the sick and support his family until the insidious disease of tuberculosis ended his life on July 15, 1904.
There is a newly wedded couple who has decided it is time for them to move out their small apartment and buy their own home. They go house hunting, and after seeing two homes they find this house that they feel is the home of their dreams yet it lacks some of the extra luxury things they feel is needed. They decide to purchase the house. They move in two months later and go straight to work. They knock out walls, change the flooring, add a pool, new appliances, remodel the bathroom, new central air and heat system, everything to fit their desired needs. After months of renovation the house is finally complete. They throw a house warming party to celebrate. Life is great for the couple.
It was John Adams who noted that "men in general, in every society, who are wholly destitute of property, are also little too acquainted with public affairs for a right judgment, and too dependent upon other men to have a will of their own."1 This shared attitude guided the Founding Fathers in their establishment of what has become America's modern day political system. When today's modern day student is asked just what sort of system that was, it seems the answer is always "democracy." In reality, the House of Representatives is the nearest idea in accordance with a system of democracy that this country would ever reach.2 Washington, Adams, and Jefferson were the wealth and success of their time, and coincidentally, it was these same men that fashioned a structure in which wealth and success were the ultimate judges of where power was to fall. The Founding Fathers did not seek democratic reform, but rather sought personal gain in the form of ultimate power.
How come authors like William Golding and William Shakespeare are both famous and grandiose writers ? Well, the answer to this question might be that both writers use rhetoric devices. Rhetoric devices are techniques used by writers or a speaker used to make their stories or speech more interesting or persuasive (if the writer or the speaker is trying to persuade someone). There are many rhetoric devices that writers use.
English classes in today's society have started to get away from its roots. Great American Authors are being overlooked for mediocre foreign authors more and more each day. This is a huge problem in classes today, and is truly a major reason for lack-luster efforts in reading and the decline in interest in today's students. One of these said overlooked authors is Thornton Niven Wilder. Wilder is an amazing author who should be taught in schools because of his wonderful teaching skills, his award-winning works, and his thoughtful insights in which he presents throughout all his works.
Colonial America Citizen Participation is one of the democratic features. Citizen Participation is when the citizens get to participate in the government. It is more than a right it’s an opportunity to get to be apart of something going on in your community. An effective citizen participation will most likely build a stronger democracy. Citizen Participation takes many forms like, debating issues, voting, serving in the military, paying taxes, running for office, and many many more. That can be found that in document 2 Voting Qualifications.
How were the seeds for self-government sown in the early colonies? Why was this important when England started to enforce rules (such as the Intolerable Acts)? Please give specific examples.
As one of North America’s leading playwrights, Neil Simon has definitely been instrumental to the world of theater. He has experienced a somewhat shaky personal life, but he has found that this only adds to the texture of his work. He began his career working on radio and television, and found that writing for stage was significantly different than his previous experiences writing. His first attempts at theater were rough, but it didn’t take him long to achieve excellence. He has also achieved great success with his work in the film industry. He is very fastidious when writing his work, and also quite critical of both the final written product, as well as its resulting production. However, no matter how uncertain he is of his work, it is apparent that audiences worldwide appreciate his writings, and he has been awarded numerous times to prove it. It is quite clear Neil Simon holds a place of importance in the world of dramatic arts.
As Britain continued to ignore American demands for equality, and as Parliament continued to pass acts that were economically burdensome and social restrictive for colonial peoples, general feeling in the colonies began to shift away from positive thoughts about British identity, arguments against British rule being published and spreading exponentially, and towards more radical solutions, like revolt, to the issues of the