The Neil Simon Collection

by Neil Simon, Dan Castellaneta, Scott Wolf

Ten essential plays by Neil Simon, one of the world's most celebrated, translated, and widely performed playwrights. Barefoot in the Park

Newlyweds move into a new apartment with no furniture, the wrong paint, leaking

skylight and wacky neighbors! A classic comedy! Performed by: Norman Aronovic, Laura Linney, J. Fred Shiffman, Judy Simmons and Eric Stoltz.

The Odd Couple

Two legendarily mismatched roommates bring down the house in this classic comedy by America's most successful playwright. Performed by: Dan Castellaneta, Stanley DeSantis, Steven Hack, Jamie Hanes, Nathan Lane, David Paymer, Linda Purl and Yeardley Smith

Plaza Suite

Neil Simon's hilarious comedy follows three brief encounters in the same suite at the famed Plaza Hotel in New York City. Performed by: Edward Asner, Michelle Costa, Richard Dreyfuss, Hector Elizondo, Amy Irving, Marsha Mason, Alfred Molina, Kerry Shale, Joe Spano and JoBeth Williams.

The Prisoner of Second Avenue

Fast-moving dialog with nonstop Simon q

Genres: Plays, Audiobook, Classics, Fiction, Drama, Comedy

20 pages, Audio CD

First published September 1, 2010

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

[Haoyan Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't finish the last play "Prisoner of the 2nd Avenue" since there are too much screaming, but other plays are really wonderful. I like Epstein of "Biloxi Blues" and Felix of "The Odd Couple" a lot. Epstein would be a wonderful person if one doesn't find him in an army barrack; Felix is a wonderful husband if one can tolerate his flaws. I can see the similarity between Neil Simon and Woody Allen, especially in those conversations. Somehow I can imagine "Brighten Beach Memoir" being molded into a Woody Allen play if we replace the family's problems with something more contemporary and throw in one psychologist.

[Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighteen hours and included ten plays mostly set in New York City and with great performances. The best, in my opinion, are The Odd Couple and Brighton Beach Memoirs.

Included, in order, are the following:
1. Barefoot in the Park: 4 stars
2. Biloxi Blues (semi-autobiographical, army training): 3 stars
3. Brighton Beach Memoirs (semi-autobiographical, coming of age and family): 4.5-5 stars
4. Broadway Bound (semi-autobiographical, family cont'd, and start of writing comedy): 4 stars
5. California Suite: 3 stars
6. Chapter Two: 3 stars
7. Lost in Yonkers: 2-3 stars
8. Plaza Suite: 3 stars
9. The Odd Couple: 4.5-5 stars
10: The Prisoner of Second Avenue: 4 stars

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you rate a series of Neil Simon plays? I hadn't read, watched or listened to any of his writing for several years, and then had a hankering. The whole Eugene Trilogy is great, and Lost in Yonkers is one of my favourites. I recently rode through Yonkers on a train on my way to and from a visit to Manhatten. I think the trip is why I borrowed the book from the library when I did.
There were a couple of plays I didn't care for, but I still appreciated how well-crafted they were and how great the performances were.

[Peter Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always loved Neil Simon's stories. It was great to hear them as radio dramas - and with amazing casts, too. I think my favorite is Lost in Yonkers, and my favorite of his characters is Aunt Bella.

[Magen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved listening to these plays; felt like listening to old radio shows. Funny, heartwarming, & poignant.

[Joseph D. Walch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially enjoyed Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound. Neil Simon is has a canny ability to portray the emotional core of his characters in a way that I found myself identifying personally with each of the characters. These plays contain that hint of naturalism that you see in other Jewish theatre and TV productions (e.g., Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld) that really works on a deep emotional level, and which brings with it a pathos that is identifiable as well as a comedy that is simple but works amazingly well.

I listened to the Audible version which is well produced and surprisingly cheap for the value.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Ten fabulous plays with parts by recognizable actors! Simon is the master of dialogue, and his plays never disappoint. I enjoyed each of them with their varied settings, characters, and problems. A bonus is that Neil Simon is also interviewed about his writing. Priceless!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant and funny! All together makes one a little depressed about long term relationships and fidelity, but truly awesome and very enjoyable to listen to.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the Jerome trilogy, hated the Suites.

[Alexánder Obando · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ingeniosos, ágiles y fluidos, pero no van más allá de ser comedias de costumbres. Si usted quiera verdadera garra, léase a Mamet.

[Gina Guesby Mays · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the audiobook soooo much! so many new stories by him that just made me laugh at very bad situations. it tells a lot about what he went through or what he was a part of in his history. One can also see a progression in his life...from childhood to adulthood. lots of hard things to deal with in such a funny way. Well done to Neil Simon and to LA Theater Works for most of the recodings!