Lost in Yonkers

"Lost in Yonkers is about finding one’s way through the tangled web of family relationships without losing the sense of self or sense of humour. Set in Yonkers, NY in 1942, the play focuses on two young brothers, Arty and Jay, left in the care of their feuding relatives, Grandma Kurnitz and Aunt Bella. Lost in Yonkers epitomises Neil Simon’s trademark mix of comedy and drama." Upon entering the auditorium the first thing an audience notice is the impressive set, dimly lit with blues and on-stage lamps. As the show begins and the light grows it becomes apparent how remarkable the setting is. Unfortunately the first scene poses some problems, with the onstage fan making it difficult to hear the actors. This diminishes as the play goes on due to it not been used in future scenes. The characters Jay and Arty (Jordan Holloway & Ethan Gosatti) begin the piece and, although take time to adjust to their accents, carry their roles well. Jay appears to be the dominate brother and his evolution throughout the play is portrayed very well. Arty on the other hand starts off as an almost submissive character, but experiences a coming of age and grows both his strength and courage during the course of the play. Gosatti appears to start of uneasy in the first act but gains confidence and volume during the second making for a decent performance though difficult to hear at times. Chris Juckes plays their father, Eddie and, in an almost Brechtian fashion, his Brother Louie. Juckes' contrast between the two characters is admirable with large parts of the audience not realizing they are both played by the same actor. Jane Anderson’s appearance as Gert was short but solid providing humor to the piece. Grandma (Karin Staflund) often seems to be the antagonist of the show. Generally mean spirited and spiteful, Staflund did a remarkable job in creating the pivotal role. The accent again was hard to place but was comfortable to listen to. The stand out of the show would be Bella, a somewhat misty eyed, kindred girl in her late thirties. Helen Kerr portrayed the role brilliantly and was virtually flawless. Entering with comic lines and a bright glow helped to offset the serious nature of the Show. During the second act, more of the character is revealed to us and Kerr's emotional response to these scenes is a pleasure to watch. Director, Alida Chaney, along with set and lighting designer Alaric Korb, obviously had a clear vision for how they felt the show should look and it has paid off remarkably well. The detail of the set was excellent with only a few coloring problems. The scenic painting (Ursula Kotara) however was well done. The lighting helped to create a perfect atmosphere for the scenes along with building window lights that would be on or off according to the time of the scene. This was apparent during a family scene in the second act with all members sitting with a striking red sky in the background. There was little sound (Stephan Barbier) during the show and his occasional mishaps were soon forgotten as a new scene started. Costumes (Joyce Gilbert & Kerry Woods) were well done with the majority been period accurate. This helped to grow the atmosphere of the play although the lack of subtlety in their design was missed in certain parts of the show. Others who must be mentioned include Stage Manager and the Production Assistant (Caroline Kaye & Jackie Brown) for their work. Overall Lost in Yonkers proves to be one of this years' stand out plays. This new staging of the play boasts great design along with exceptional acting and writing. All of this will surely add up to a very successful run.