California Suite

by Neil Simon

Visitors from New York, Philadelphia, London, and Chicago are the protagonists in four playlets set in the Beverly Hills Hotel

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre, Humor, Fiction, Audiobook, Comedy

118 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Marvin Neil Simon (July 04, 1927 - August 26, 2018) 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. Simon 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

[Elias Bahrami]

I read most of this play distractedly. I should read it again. A few of its words were unfamiliar to me and I would get tired from looking up their meaning every time. By the way, I like Simon's jokes as usual. The second episode and the suspense it created were awesome. And the last episode – I can imagine how funny it would be if I saw it performed or read it more carefully.
(I have been trying to learn English lately, and I decided to write my reviews in English for the English-language books I read. So, thank you for enduring the mistakes in my reviews.)

[Ali Najafy]

این نمایشنامه رو دوست داشتم و میشه گفت تم دیالوگ و محتوای صحنه‌ها مطابق سلیقه‌ام بود

نیل سایمون قلم خوبی داره و می‌تونه خیلی ساده کنش بین افراد رو در قالب دیالوگ های کوتاه و پشت سر هم به نمایش بذاره
قطاری از دیالوگ‌ و پرسش و پاسخ های کوتاه که شخصیت هر فرد رو واکاوی می‌کنه

به هیچ وجه اطلاعات یا توضیح اضافه‌ای در متن وجود نداره و کوتاه بودن صحنه‌ها در جذابیت و گیرایی نمایش تاثیر زیادی داشته

[Dr.Amene]

خیلی خوب بود خصوصا با آخرین پرده بی‌نهایت خندیدم🤣

[Crash Solo]

Really a series of one-acts that all take place in the same hotel room in LA; divorcees argue over where their 17 year old daughter should live in a vindictive, venomous airing of grievances; a husband tries to divert attention from the passed out woman in the bed while his wife complains about her flight; an aging actress waits and responds to her results at the Oscar’s, trading barbs with her bisexual husband; a married couple treat the wife’s ankle injury and air all their grievances with the other married couple they were on vacation with. A mixed bag, some fun stuff.

[Kat]

Basic Premise: 4 different scenes that take place in the same suite in a California hotel room.

Each scenario was interesting in its own way. All were funny, some had serious moments as well. I wouldn't do this with high school students due to some thematic and language elements, but it is really rather mild as far as controversy or concerning shenanigans. I think that the right actors could make these scenes downright hysterical, but just reading the script some of the jokes fell a bit flat.

[Heather McC]

After listening to 'Plaza Suite' (which had the more compelling story), this Neil Simon play offers more slapstick comedy about a vacation gone awry for two couples, a divorced couple finagling a summer with their daughter, and an actress on the eve of an award night - all taking place at the same hotel suite.

[Betsy Post]

My Jaime likes to read plays, not sure why. Ibsen, O’Neill, etc. Now he’s working through the Neil Simon section of our library. This came up next. I read it because I remember Maggie Smith, Michael Caine, Jane Fonda and Alan Alda in the movie. They were all so funny. And Simon captures that time very well. The humor snaps and crackles.

[Aimee]

A local theater company is putting this on, so I thought I'd have a preview before deciding to go. I'm glad I did. Though the last scene was pretty funny, the others just didn't connect with me. They felt too angry and had more language than I care for. Maybe it's better seen on stage.

[Claire]

charming as hell. I particularly liked the third "playlet", about the English couple. !!! not sure if I'll be successful auditioning for this one, though, since it's all about middle age (even though it doesn't have to be).

[James]

Neil Simon does his West coast version of his PLAZA SUITE but this time with 4 small plays in the same room. Four different stories that go from divorce duo drama with rapid fire quips and comebacks to farce slapstick tense comedy back to couple drama and then back to real slapstick comedy. The best ones are the drama takes.

[Vic Allen]

If walls could talk. Neil Simon's "California Suite" follows the adventures of a hotel room in the titular California or rather the couples that stay there. Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, the play is well loved for a reason.

[Zac Stojcevski]

Articulate witty writing concealing dysfunctional interpersonal relationships in the clinch of the confines of an east coast hotel. The circle has elements of The Eagles’ Hotel California for the non musical.

[Len Cuthbert]

I've read and seen many Neil Simon plays. He was a prominent playwright on Broadway in the 60's and 70's. A great idea of four different scenarios in a single location. Dated material but still reflects Simon's humour.

[Lauren Hancock]

Not my favorite--I find myself reading Simon's distinctive voice but missing Eugene being its vehicle of delivery. But still clever and fun.

[Brian McCann]

So well-crafted. So funny.

[Susan Molloy]

The experiences of the four couples in this play captivated me. This is another Neil Simon play that makes my "favorites" list.

[Lea Handler]

Love this play!

[Dan Blackley]

The California version of Plaza Suite. There is one really funny scene with the doctors and wives playing tennis.

[Sophie Bloor]

The wit of Neil Simon is unmatched. I liked this, not too invested in the characters but an enjoyable ride nevertheless.

[Phill Batt-Capps]

I read this because our community theatre will be putting on this show in the fall. It was average, a couple chuckles, but not outstanding.

[Andrew Hanna]

cool concept, some of the vignettes were duds

[Andrea Janov]

The California Suite was more entertaining than its New York counterpart, though I am not sure there was any situation or character that will stick with me.

[Kristi]

The dialogue was not as funny now as it seemed in 1976. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Shai Kauffman]

Very deep and creative

[Susanne]

2/6 points, play-script, tennis act most amusing, others not that interesting

[Hannah Hammond]

Not my fave Simon, but it was fun.

[Donna Hester]

Gotta love Neil Simon!

[Kat Abraham]

This play is everything I love and only everything I love. Never have I seen people make up so quickly

[Rachel Saper]

2.5 - out of the hour scenes - the first and last were my favorites. But the middle two were just eh. I’m not sure how well these would play today.

[Ray]

One of Neil Simon's best. Had a successful run on Broadway, and was made into a feature film in 1978.