24 San Diego Uptown News | October 15-28, 2010


WHAT'S UP! Globe’s ‘Broadway Bound’ not quite bound for greatness


By Patricia Morris Buckley SDUN Theatre Critic


Where is Matthew Broderick


when you need him? It seems a bit unfair to finger-


point to the lead of a show as the reason a production is merely OK. But really, that is the problem with the Old Globe Theatre’s produc- tion of “Broadway Bound.” The show is narrated by the main char- acter, so the production’s success hinges on the appeal of that actor. That’s not to say that Brandon


Uranowitz, who plays the role of Eugene Jerome, isn’t an excel- lent actor. He is. But he lacks the charm the character requires —no, demands. Just think about Broderick, who played the role on Broadway in “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and won a Tony Award for it (Jonathan Silverman played the role in “Broadway Bound”). How else can it be explained


that the Globe’s “Broadway Bound” doesn’t have the same appeal as its “Brighton Beach Memoirs”? The plays, which are the first and third in Neil Simon’s autobiographical trilogy about the Jerome family, are currently play- ing in repertory. The two share much of the same excellent cast, designers and director. In “Brighton Beach,” Eugene


is played by Austyn Myers, who has plenty of charm and can sling a good zinger. As the older Eugene, Uranowitz is fairly good with a zinger, but lacks the charming warmth. He seems to seize on the character’s anger a little too aggressively, which makes Eugene far less engaging. In fact, it makes the play even darker than Simon intended. Unfortunately, this brings the


entire production down a notch or two. For instance, there’s this wonderful scene where Jerome asks his mother, Kate, about the night she danced with George Raft. There’s an added potency to the story because Kate did this to attract the eye of Jack, who became her husband, and now their mar- riage is ending. While the story is delightful, it’s Jerome’s adoration of his mother as he gets to know her as an adult that really drives the scene (that scene had a lot to do with Linda Lavin winning the Tony for playing Kate on Broadway). Four-time Tony nominee Karen Ziemba is playing Kate, a role she


Karen Ziemba as Kate Jerome and Brandon Uranowitz as Eugene Jerome in Neil Simon’s “Broadway Bound,” at The Old Globe through Nov. 7. (Courtesy Henry DiRocco)


“BROADWAY BOUND”


When: Nov. 7; in repertory with “Brighton Beach Memoirs” Where: Old Globe Theatre


Info: (619) 23-GLOBE Web: theoldglobe.org


shines in with “Brighton Beach.” But instead of dazzling us, as this scene should, it kind of falls flat. And that sums up the produc-


tion as well. The laughs are never big. The characters are never engaging. The whole arc of the show—as Stanley and Eugene are breaking into show business and start moving toward moving out— doesn’t feel as satisfying. Perhaps it just pales in comparison to the


superior production of “Brighton Beach Memoirs.” As Stanley, Joseph Parks does


an outstanding job of capturing the character’s intensity and drive. Bonnie Black’s role as Blanche is less showy here than in “Brighton Beach.” The same goes for David Bashins, who repeats the role of Jack, the boys’ father. Howard Green is Ben Epstein, Kate’s elderly father. Epstein’s perfor- mance has more energy in the last 20 minutes of the show than the rest of the play. Scott Schwartz’s direction is once again subtle and sharp, especially as he frames the show with Myers at the beginning and end of the show. The Globe’s “Broadway Bound”


has so much going for it. So many talented people are involved, Ura- nowitz included. But this isn’t the role for him and unfortunately, the whole production suffers for it.u


Joseph Parks as Stan Jerome and Brandon Uranowitz as Eugene Jerome in Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound, at The Old Globe. (Courtesy Henry DiRocco)


HURRY!


Offer ends soon.


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