The St. Joseph’s Players in Yucca Valley are performing “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” the first in a coming-of-age, semi-autobiographical trilogy by Neil Simon. It’s 1937 in Brooklyn, New York, and the Jerome family—parents Jack and Kate, and sons Stanley and Eugene—have welcomed Kate’s widowed sister Blanche and her two daughters, Nora and Laurie, into the family home. Managing editor Tami Roleff was at the opening night performance and says the show is not to be missed…
I didn’t know what to expect when I walked in to see “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” now being performed by the St. Joseph’s Players in Yucca Valley, but I was delighted by the entire production. The star of the play is Eugene, winningly played by Trevor Carpenter, who at 12 years old won the 2014 Desert Theatre League Award for Outstanding Juvenile. When he’s not dreaming about playing for the Yankees, Eugene dreams of, and lusts after, his beautiful cousin, Nora, played by Elizabeth Schmelling, in the best role—so far—of her theater career. Director Rebecca Havely, who also plays Eugene’s mother Kate, has put together a stellar and experienced cast, which includes Shelly Sheckler, Leonard Weber, Vincent Thomas, and Madison Tuttle. I was impressed by everyone’s Jewish-Brooklyn accents, although a couple actors seemed to lose the accent toward the end of the play. All the performances are terrific, and the set is fantastic. I laughed and cried, and gasped in disbelief—did he REALLY just say what I thought he said? And for that reason, the play is PG-13, with some profanity and sexual themes.
“Brighton Beach Memoirs” is playing at St. Joseph of Arimethea Church, 56312 Onaga Trail in Yucca Valley, with 7 p.m. performances Saturday, October 18 and November 1, and 2:00 matinees on Saturday, October 25, and Sunday, October 19 and 26, and November 2. Tickets to “Brighton Beach Memoirs” are $9 and $11, and are available in advance at Align the Spine Chiropractic in Yucca Valley, from a cast member, from members of St. Joseph’s Church, or at the door (cash only, please). For reservations, call 760-365-7133 and leave a message.
WE REVIEW “BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS” BY ST. JOSEPH’S PLAYERS
