{"product_id":"the-collected-plays-of-neil-simon-9780452258709","title":"The Collected Plays of Neil Simon","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe Collected Plays of Neil Simon - Volume 1\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis first volume of \u003ci\u003eThe Collected Plays of Neil Simon\u003c\/i\u003e contains the triumphs that put his unique brand of comic genius on the American stage, and made him the most successful playwright of his generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSeven Iconic Broadway Comedies in One Collection\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis comprehensive anthology includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eCome Blow Your Horn\u003c\/i\u003e - Neil Simon's unforgettable Broadway debut\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eBarefoot in the Park\u003c\/i\u003e - The beloved romantic comedy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Odd Couple\u003c\/i\u003e - The legendary play about mismatched roommates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePlaza Suite\u003c\/i\u003e - Three hilarious acts set in a New York hotel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Star-Spangled Girl\u003c\/i\u003e - A witty romantic farce\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePromises, Promises\u003c\/i\u003e - The acclaimed musical comedy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eLast of the Red Hot Lovers\u003c\/i\u003e - A sharp comedy about midlife crisis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe collection also features an introduction by Neil Simon himself: \"Portrait of the Writer as a Schizophrenic,\" offering insight into his creative process and career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eNeil Simon's Signature Comedy Style\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNeil Simon's mixture of verbal wit and beautifully crafted farce, ethnic humor and insight into universal foible, and above all compassion and understanding, make even his sharpest barbs touch the heart as well as the funny bone. These seven plays make us laugh uproariously even as we indelibly identify with the objects of our laughter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePerfect for Theater Students, Performers, and Drama Enthusiasts\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis volume serves as an essential resource for drama students studying American comedy, actors seeking audition material, theater professionals, and anyone who appreciates classic Broadway plays. Each script showcases Simon's mastery of dialogue, character development, and comedic timing that defined American theater in the 1960s and 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout Neil Simon\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSince 1960, a Broadway season without a Neil Simon comedy or musical has been a rare one. His career began in television, writing \u003ci\u003eThe Phil Silvers Show\u003c\/i\u003e and Sid Caesar's \u003ci\u003eYour Show of Shows\u003c\/i\u003e. He went on to write numerous Broadway hits including \u003ci\u003eBrighton Beach Memoirs\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBiloxi Blues\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLost in Yonkers\u003c\/i\u003e, which earned him the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize in 1991. He also wrote screen adaptations of many of his plays and original screenplays including \u003ci\u003eThe Goodbye Girl\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Heartbreak Kid\u003c\/i\u003e. Neil Simon died in 2018, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy in American theater.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSince 1960, a Broadway season without a \u003cb\u003eNeil Simon\u003c\/b\u003e comedy or musical has been a rare one. His first play was \u003ci\u003eCome Blow Your Horn\u003c\/i\u003e, followed by the musical \u003ci\u003eLittle Me\u003c\/i\u003e. During the 1966-67 season, \u003ci\u003eBarefoot in the Park\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Odd Couple\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSweet Charity\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Star-Spangled Girl\u003c\/i\u003e were all running simultaneously; in the 1970-71 season, Broadway theatergoers had their choice of \u003ci\u003ePlaza Suite\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eLast of the Red Hot Lovers\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003ePromises, Promises\u003c\/i\u003e. Next came \u003ci\u003eThe Gingerbread Lady\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Prisoner of Second Avenue\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Sunshine Boys\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Good Doctor\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGod's Favorite\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCalifornia Suite\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eChapter Two\u003c\/i\u003e, the musical \u003ci\u003eThey're Playing Our Song\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eI Ought to Be in Pictures\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBrighton Beach Memoirs\u003c\/i\u003e (which won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play of 1983), \u003ci\u003eBiloxi Blues\u003c\/i\u003e (which won the Tony Award for Best Play of 1985), and the female version of \u003ci\u003eThe Odd Couple\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMr. Simon began his writing career in television, writing \u003ci\u003eThe Phil Silvers Show\u003c\/i\u003e and Sid Caesar's \u003ci\u003eYour Show of Shows\u003c\/i\u003e. He also wrote the screen adaptations of \u003ci\u003eBarefoot in the Park\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Odd Couple\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ePlaza Suite\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Prisoner of Second Avenue\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Sunshine Boys\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCalifornia Suite\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eChapter Two\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eI Ought to Be in Pictures\u003c\/i\u003e. His original screenplays include \u003ci\u003eThe Out-of-Towners\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Heartbreak Kid\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMurder by Death\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Goodbye Girl\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Cheap Detective\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSeems Like Old Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eOnly When I Laugh\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMax Dugan Returns\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Slugger's Wife\u003c\/i\u003e. He received the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize in 1991 for \u003ci\u003eLost in Yonkers\u003c\/i\u003e. He died in 2018.","brand":"Penguin Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50680617926930,"sku":"9780452258709","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_7bd1ea71-7d71-45a8-8060-295f352b625d.jpg?v=1734923255","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-collected-plays-of-neil-simon-9780452258709","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}