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Home > Archive > Jul 12, 2007

Neil Simon Festival to Open Fifth Season
By Ashley Langston
Contributing Editor
The Neil Simon Festival is about to start its fifth season in Cedar City’s Heritage Theater, and it will be serving up three of the famous playwright’s comedies Tuesday, July 19, through Saturday, Aug. 11.
Theatre-goers will be treated to “Plaza Suite,” “The Odd Couple (Female Version)” and “The Prisoner of Second Avenue.”
The festival has humble beginnings and is still on a tight budget, but there are many people on board who believe in it and the quality productions it adds to Cedar City. In a community known as Festival City, USA, it provides one more cultural option to the rich tapestry that entertains residents and visitors alike.
Richard Bugg, Neil Simon Festival founder, said he started the festival because he loves Simon’s work.
“He has caught the American spirit in his plays,” Bugg said. “They’re all comedies, but they deal with very tragic and difficult moments in people’s lives.”
Though Simon writes from one perspective, his plays are about all humanity. Bugg said their messages are universal and appeal to people from all walks of life, and they’re wonderful comedy.
Bradford Garrison, who is directing “Plaza Suite,” is in his third year with the festival. He directed “The Good Doctor” last year and played Jay in “Lost in Yonkers” two years ago.
Garrison said he loves the festival because he also loves the work of Neil Simon. He said it is comedy with real substance, and teaches true life lessons.
Life is difficulty mixed with humor, and comedy and pain cannot be separated, he said. Simon’s plays capture that.
“If we didn’t have humor, how would we get through?” Garrison said.
He said seeing Simon’s plays can actually help in dealing with life, because it reminds audiences to look for the humor in every situation.
“Plaza Suite” opens Thursday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. It is one of a series of Simon plays in which all the action takes place in one spot, and there are different sets of characters with different situations.
Of the three plays, this is probably one of the more “meaty” pieces, Garrison said. It’s a nice balance of dramatic literature and easy humor.
“Plaza Suite” follows three sets of people and focuses on marriage, he said. The play explorers the theme from different angles through the characters and scenarios. It examines bumpy marriages and how a little humor can go a long way.
“I really recommend it for the married crowd and older because it’s all about relationships and laughing through the rough spots,” he said. “You can’t leave this play without evaluating your own relationships a little bit.”
Garrison said in many Simon plays, the playwright gently prompts viewers to evaluate themselves, and nearly everyone can relate.
Some of the actors to watch for are returning favorites Richard Hill and Cedar City local Matthew Nickerson. Nickerson is also on the festival’s board.
Opening Friday, June 20 is “The Odd Couple (Female Version).” This is a spin on the original “The Odd Couple,” which the festival produced in 2003, its first year. It tells a hilarious “story of mismatched roommates from a feminine perspective,” according to http://www.simonfest.org.
“The Odd Couple” is light-hearted, upbeat and fun, Garrison said.
“It’s the high-energy piece of the season,” he said.
It will feature Ellen Treanor and Ashley Neves.
“They’re just a dynamic duo,” Garrison said.
He said it is a good date show because it is so light and fun, and it isn’t as meaty. Audience members can leave feeling good about their own flaws and insecurities, he said.
Perhaps the most buzz is being made about “The Prisoner of Second Avenue.” Opening Saturday, July 21, the show will feature Eddie Mekka, a popular stage, television and movie actor whose most popular role was probably Carmine Ragusa in the TV series “Lavern & Shirley.” Mekka has performed in Neil Simon plays before and is excited to act with the festival that is dedicated to Simon’s work.
Costarring in “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” is Jan Broberg, St. George Musical Theater executive director. She has had a diverse career as well, and brings a lot of experience to the festival. She seems to believe in the cause, as this is not her first year on board, and will likely not be her last.
The play is “Simon’s comic tribute to the resilience of the human spirit,” according to a festival brochure. It follows Mel and Edna, a dedicated couple who teach the audience how to stick together and make things work. After Mel loses his very good job, they are tested with a series of trials that will make the audience laugh and cry, Broberg said.
According to the Web site, Neil Simon has written 38 plays and is still writing. He is compared to a modern Shakespeare, and what better place than the home of the Utah Shakespearean Festival to have the first festival of Simon’s plays. Theatre patrons can see the most popular British playwright and one of the most popular American playwrights in one place.
The Neil Simon Festival and Utah Shakespearean Festival are not affiliated, but both were started by Cedar City residents with a love for great theatre.
Cedar City’s Neil Simon Festival is currently the only ongoing event dedicated to the works of this great American playwright, the Web site reported.
Simon once had four plays on Broadway at once, and has produced more Broadway hits than any other American playwright, according to the Web site.
Garrison said more people need to discover the festival.
“I think it’s kind of a hidden gem down here,” he said.

The Heritage Theater is at 105 N. 100 East in Cedar City. Tickets are $20 per seat and may be purchased at the box office or by phone, e-mail, mail or fax. For more information visit www.simonfest.org or call 327-8673.

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