Eugene Morris Jerome is obsessed with two things: The Yankees, and seeing a naked girl. But what else does a fifteen year old have to think about in 1937? The Yankees are playing against the Giants in an all New York World Series Final, and Eugene’s excitement is palpable. But there are many more emotions brewing under the surface of the Jerome household. Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs takes audiences back to a time of immense turmoil in the world, through the innocent eyes of a young boy. Directed by Lynn Weintraub, Brighton Beach Memoirs is a hopeful reminder of the power of love, empathy, and family, once again in a time where it’s very much a necessity.

Brighton Beach Memoirs is an emotionally charged yet heartwarming look into the lives of the Jerome family in October of 1937, and is told through the writings of Eugene, the youngest son of the Jeromes. His Aunt Blanche, and cousins Nora and Laurie, have been living with his family for over three years. With seven people living under one roof, there’s very little privacy to be had. However, it also means that when something goes wrong, there’s more folks to consider as well. With Jack and his eldest son Stanley as the breadwinners, any changes in their employment could spell disaster, meanwhile Nora is getting audition offers for Broadway and everyone is always concerned about Laurie’s health. Poor Eugene barely gets a glance from the adults, unless there’s a run to the grocers to be done. With war looming and jobs becoming increasingly scarce, how will they tackle what the future holds for them?

Right away I was struck by the beautiful set which Ashely Whitten has designed for this production. The set has been brought right to the front of the space, so that the front row is practically sitting in the living room and dining room of the house. The upstairs is divided into the rooms for the boys and the girls (which used to be one room as Eugene will happily remind you). This masterful design gives the feeling of the cramped nature of the family’s living situation, while also having plenty of unique spaces for the scenes to take place. It allows for comedic moments as well, as you can see into other rooms even when the focus is elsewhere; there’s a whole lot of ears pressed against walls and doors as some of the most pivotal conversations go down in other rooms within the house. I also loved how there was laundry hanging on the sides of the theatre; it evokes that stereotypical image of New York fire escapes covered in clothes which we’ve come to know and love. Liza Zawadzka’s costumes are fitting for the time period from head to toe. I love the argyle sweaters, floral aprons, and pearls the various characters don throughout the show.

David Ohana leads Brighton Beach Memoirs as Eugene. His comedic timing combined with his charm and talent make him impossible to take your eyes off of. For such a young performer to be so dynamic and aware of everything on stage is impressive; remember this name, folks, I doubt this’ll be the last we see of David Ohana! David Altow plays Jack, the patriarch of the Jerome family with a grace and understanding befitting the role. His kindness radiates from him as he deflty navigates the difficult world of his character. Elyssa Katz is fabulous as Kate, expertly pulling out bits of comedy in even the most emotional of moments. Laura Denmar likewise shines as Blanche; Denmar portrays this complex character beautifully, and her chemistry with Katz easily shows their sisterhood. Likewise, Lauryn Hall’s Nora and Molly Alexander’s Laurie have a classic sibling dynamic. Hall is elegant and graceful, it doesn’t take much to imagine her as the dancer her character aims to be, though she is also able to dig deep into her character’s struggles. While Alexander has a sweetness to her which makes you understand how Laurie gets away with being pampered as much as she is. Remy Dubins gives Stanley a real heart and soul; making us pity him even when we know he’s made a poor decision. From the audience, this cast truly felt like a family; the way they interacted with one another felt so natural. I only hope they’re having as much fun on stage as we are witnessing this story.

“Okay everyone! The Jays are up one-nothing. Wait! Make that three-nothing!” The audience cheers at the news, hope springing up at this early-game lead during the show’s intermission. Game 7 of the World Series was happening just a matter of kilometres away from the theatre on opening night. I couldn’t help but think that Eugene would be doing the exact same as us if he were in our shoes: checking the scores at intermission and at the end of the show, announcing the excitement of a two-run homer to the people around him. Brighton Beach Memoirs is most importantly a reminder of the hope we all need to have, especially when the world around us feels bleak and impossible. The Jerome family knows that they’ll be able to handle whatever comes their way because they have each other and the love they all share. We felt that camaraderie in the theatre that night, not just around the show itself, but the other ‘show’ which was happening downtown; for a moment, everyone was a Jays fan, and everyone had hope.

Brighton Beach Memoirs runs in the Studio Theatre at the Meridian Arts Centre until November 6. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.teatrontheatre.com/

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Cover Photo: Remy Dubins and David Ohana. Photo credit – Jenna Purther.

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