By Katelyn Needham/ managing editor
A comedy about a dysfunctional New York family in 1942 will take the SE Campus stage Dec. 1-3.
The Neil Simon production Lost in Yonkers won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1991. SE speech adjunct instructor Larry Cure will direct and bring laughter to audiences this December.
“Lost in Yonkers is kind of a Hansel and Gretel story,” Cure said. “But it’s modernized and takes place during World War II in 1942. It’s about two boys whose mom died of cancer, and their father gets in trouble with a loan shark. He takes odd jobs and has to leave his two boys with their grandmother who is like the witch.”
The play will have evening showings at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1-3 and a matinee showing at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 2.
Student Danny Vanegas plays younger brother Arty.
“He is like the comedic relief,” he said. “The play is funny in and of itself, but he cracks jokes to relieve tense moments. He’s supposed to be 14 years old, so it’s fun to get to play around with being a kid again.”
Vanegas said the most challenging part of the play is performing with an accent.
“It’s a completely different accent than I am used to,” Vanegas said. “I think it’s been difficult for all of us to work with it. But the more we rehearse, the better we get because we get to practice them more and more.”
SE student Cameron Slaughter, who plays older brother Jay, said working on this production was a joy.
“This play is really funny, and it relates to every aspect of life,” Slaughter said. “You got the mobster guy who is kinda looking for his place in life and the kids who are trying to learn to live with the grandma. It can relate to everyone.”
Tickets are free for TCC students, faculty and staff, $3 for non-TCC students and seniors and $6 for general admission.
