Review: BROADWAY BOUND Transmits Family Drama and More at 1st Stage

The dysfunctional, lovable Jerome family from Brighton Beach returns in the third installment in Neil Simon's Eugene trilogy, Broadway Bound. In Broadway Bound, Eugene Jerome (Noah Schaefer) and his brother, Stanley (Scott Ward Abernethy) wish to exchange the hum-drum of their day jobs for gigs as comedy writers. The brothers try to chase fame is overshadowed by a piling of familial issues. Firstly, their father, Jack (Andy Brownstein), and their mother, Kate (Teresa Castracane), are struggling to keep their relationship intact. Secondly, their "dedicated socialist" grandfather, Ben (Stan Shulman) is coming to terms with his age as he lives under Kate's roof. And lastly, their aunt, Blanche (Kathleen Akerley) is trying to move the family matriarch to Florida despite the disapproval of her own father, Ben. Will the family drama provide inspiration for Eugene and Stanley? In 1st Stage's production of Broadway Bound, the cast breathes life into the Jerome family, so much so, that one feels as if they are watching their own family bicker on stage.

Schaefer's Eugene throughout the show dishes witty asides to the audience that remind one of Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It is in these asides that Schaefer brings a bit of eccentricity and quirkiness to Eugene. Schaefer's most intense scene doesn't necessarily involve an aside with the audience, but a line he says to Abernethy's Stanley that he feels his anger channels his comedic writing. Abernethy's Stanley is a stark contrast to Eugene. Stanley is the go-getter and doer. Abernethy channels Stanley's steadfastness in every movement. He pairs well with Schaefer on stage especially during scenes in which the two brothers are bickering. Castracane's Kate is the nurturing, strong mother at the epicenter of the family, but she isn't the typical warm and fuzzy mother one might expect. Castracane plays Kate with a bit of mystery as she doesn't divulge details about herself very easily. A charming scene in which Kate gives Eugene the juicy details on her dance with a certain celebrity at the Prime Rose stands out as Castracane's best scene. Shulman is quite funny as Ben as his comedic timing is perfection from his snoring to his showering of Schaefer's Eugene with purposely bad jokes. Brownstein's Jack has limited interactions with the other members of the cast, but his portrayal of Jack during a scene in which he lies to Castracane's Kate is heart wrenching and strikes a chord with anyone who has been through a tumultuous point in their relationship with their significant other. Although, she only appears briefly, Akerley does an excellent job portraying Blanche as it is easy to see one's aunt in her.

The production quality of 1st Stage's Broadway Bound is high especially when it comes to the set. The set, designed by Jonathan Dahm Robertson, is a two-story house complete with a dining room, two bedrooms, and living room. The house even includes lamps and wall lights that the cast can turn on and off. The details of the decade are there from the old radios to the furniture.

While the cast is able to tackle the conflict, humor, and drama with ease, Neil Simon's Broadway Bound tanks like a sequel. The script doesn't have as much potency as say his first work, Brighton Beach, in the trilogy as Eugene and his journey becomes a second seat to the family drama bubbling from beneath the surface.

1st Stage's production of Broadway Bound, directed by Shirley Serotsky, isn't quite the closer to the Eugene trilogy that one might expect, but exceptionally talented cast and beautiful production design makes it worth the watch.

Running Time: About three hours - includes one intermission.

Broadway Bound runs at 1st Stage through December 18, 2016. Tickets can be purchased online.

Pictured: (l to r) Stan Shulman and Noah Schaefer in "Broadway Bound" at 1st Stage. The show runs through December 18, 2016 in Tysons Corner. Photo by Doug Wilder.

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