‘Broadway Bound’ is BLT bound
The final show this season at Butler Little Theatre has been a long time coming.
The curtain rises on “Broadway Bound,” the third installment of semi-autobiographical plays by Neil Simon, on May 13 at the theater at One Howard St.
Bob Dandoy, director of “Broadway,” started the three-play journey in 2015 when he directed “Brighton Beach Memoirs.” The second play in the series, “Biloxi Blues,” ran at the BLT in 2017. Seven years later, Dandoy is excited to return and finish the saga.
“I really love this group of plays,” Dandoy said. “When you look at the trilogy, you see three periods that are semi-autobiographical and based on the life of playwright Neil Simon. The first is the character Eugene Jerome as a young boy wanting to write, then him in the service, then trying to break into show business.”
According to Dandoy, “Broadway Bound” documents the Jerome brothers’ journey as writers and affords a look at their family life.
“It’s the same with most writers: When you sit down to write, you turn to real life. You can see in the play how the pain and humor figure into (Eugene’s) writing as a playwright,” he said.
Luke Pfeifer, who plays Eugene, described him as an energetic and passionate kid.
“He’s good at observing the world around him and making it funny,” he said.
Most “Broadway” cast members were not involved in the previous two shows. Pfeifer said entering the show canon has been interesting and the relationships portrayed in the show are genuine.
“It’s an odd feeling, I’m afraid I’m making him a different character,” he said. “It’s been a very fun process ... everyone really comes together like a family. When a cast plays a close-knit family, that ends up coming through.”
Elizabeth Smith, who plays the Jerome matriarch Kate, said Dandoy is an expert on the playwright and helps the cast tremendously.
“(Dandoy) knows Neil Simon and what the play wants from the characters,” she said. “I’m amazed at the talent I get to work with.”
Dandoy said he’s been blessed by the cast expertly donning their roles.
“I’ll use an old adage from a college director: ‘If you cast it right, 85% of the work is done.’ It was true in this one and the last one,” he said. “I’m not taking credit for this; it’s the talent of these people. It’s wild to have these people fall into my lap.”
According to Dandoy, he was most concerned with the casting of Eugene and his older brother Stanley, played by Matt Leslie.
“With these guys, you’d think they’re real brothers,” he said.
“Everyone is just stellar. It seems everyone’s naturally meant for their parts,” Leslie said. “The chemistry is on point.”
“I look forward to the audience seeing those relationships onstage,” Pfeifer said.
Leslie said he hopes audiences walk away with an understanding of the show as one about family.
“No family is perfect, but every family is perfect for each other,” he said. “In all the little dysfunctions, there’s a tremendous amount of love.”
Smith and Dandoy said plays by Simon are known for their comedy, but “Broadway Bound” also has practical takeaways within the plot.
“With this play they’re going to laugh, but they’re also going to be moved,” Smith said of those who see the show. “I hope the audience is moved and happy to be back in the theater, ready for laughs and tears.”
“It’s the same thing I always say about when you go to the theater that you try and see yourself. What insight do you get for your own life?” Dandoy said. “These are everyday things that happen to everyday people, and Simon is able to draw humor, sensitivity and drama out of it that help us learn to cope.”
Tickets are now available at butlerlittletheatre.com.
WHO: Butler Little Theatre
WHAT: “Broadway Bound”
WHERE: One Howard St., Butler
WHEN: May 13-15, 17-21. Curtain times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
COST: $13
