Come Blow Your Horn

by Neil Simon

Full Length, Comedy / Characters: 3 male, 4 female

Scenery: Interior

Neil Simon's first Broadway comedy smash. Alan Baker, a 30-ish swinging bachelor with time, money and women to spare, welcomes rebellious and eager 21-year brother Buddy into his den of iniquity while their horrified parents can only watch and pray. This farcical 60's romp became a hit movie starring Frank Sinatra.

"A slick, lively, funny comedy."-The New York Times

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Comedy, Humor

92 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Marvin Neil Simon was an American playwright and screenwriter. He wrote more than 30 plays and he received more combined Oscar and Tony nominations than any other writer. He was one of the most reliable hitmakers in Broadway history, as well as one of the most performed playwrights in the world. Though primarily a comic writer, some of his plays, particularly the Eugene Trilogy and The Sunshine Boys, reflect on the twentieth century Jewish-American experience.

Reviews

[Florina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chuckled all throughout even when it was rather inappropriate. This is an early play and a pretty thin farce, but Simon's one-liners are too good to be ignored.

[Dan Blackley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Simon's first play that he rewrote 24 times before he felt it was right. It was a big hit and started his career. I still think it's a funny play that works.

[Julian Munds · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a good play. It's a thin farce with lines that are far too smart. Nothing feels authentic. The characters are 1 dimensional archetypes. It's almost desperate. Like a sweaty guy standing in front people saying like me... Like me... I'll make you laugh. Here's some wit. That was funny. It has all the bits. This is only the second Neil Simon play I've wrestled with. I hope his other work is better.

[Andrea Janov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though there is a hysterical mother in this play, there is also an even more hysterical father. While I still don't love that style of tension, it is a breath of fresh air seeing a male character being presented as such. The third act and the resolution came a bit quick for my liking, but I can see that the proper staging may alleviate that feeling.

[Stuart]

A remnant of 1961 zeitgeist. Unrateable. Much of Simon holds up poorly and his many innovations became cliches. Impossible to critique. Interesting time warp. What was a riot then, now boring and mildly offensive.

[Ramzi nokairi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dynamic, you only want more reading it. Neil Simon Nailed it

[Habiba Affo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was going so well but the ending bro… Alan should not have gotten Connie. The dad was being annoying near the end, the mother idek. 3.5 really.

[Anber · Rating 3 out of 5]

The inspiration for Modern Family

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Neil Simon comedies, and his first Broadway success. Great characters, great laughs. A winner.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Simon's first play. He said he worked for three years on it because he didn't want it to close the first night. I like the premise of the New York family with two close brothers conflicting with the irritable father and the nervous mother. In Act I, there is the signature Simon comical banter. He brings the conflict in immediately and introduces other outside issues such as one brother being unmarried at thirty and the other a 21 year old virgin. By Act II, the mother and father are introduced and then the situation escalates with the father's business, party girls, and other familial unrest. By Act III, we see a transformation with the brothers and a resolution with parents and girlfriend. A familiar character is introduced in Act I by the name of Felix Unger. We don't meet him, but we know where he is headed later in Simon's future writing. The brothers' rapport in the apartment also sheds light into where Simon found material for another "odd" couple down the road.

[Mandy F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love nearly all of Neil Simon's works. This one didn't disappoint. I love that he reveals so much in conversation about the complications of family. I love that this story was seen mostly through the eyes of two young boys and how they changed their perception of certain family members over one summer. A great and fast read.

[Brian McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

2017: Simon's first play. Old-fashioned 60s NYC comedy. Stars to lose its punch in Act III, but solid writing and many laughs.

2023: Revisited this play. Honestly could not remember anything about it. I did enjoy it and you can see where Simon built upon this template subsequently.

Spoiler: there is a reference to a man called Felix Unger. THAT made me laugh.

[Elizabeth Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. It took awhile for it to get funny, but once it did it was quite enjoyable. It’s a play about an overly sexually charged man which in and of itself is boring, annoying, and uncomfortable, so that’s how the play starts, but as the story unfolds it becomes increasingly funny and interesting. The characters are wonderful and the ending is super fulfilling.
(PG-13 rating)

[David]

Smartly written and entertaining.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It hasn't aged perfectly, but it's still clever and has an excellent pace. Very enjoyable.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple. Quick. Funny. A good little story on growing up. The parental characters are awesome.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but not particularly memorable. I'm guessing a stellar cast would make a difference though.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This script has a really funny story-line. Funny with just as much heart, it illustrates how all of us grow up and the steps to get there

[Lucas Spears · Rating 2 out of 5]

no.