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Lesson 1 (from Act I)

Objective

Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs is one of his most widely respected plays. The semi-autobiographical play debuted on Broadway on March 27, 1983, at the Alvin Theatre. Like many of Simon's successes, Brighton Beach Memoirs enjoyed a lengthy run and financial success. In this lesson, students will research Neil Simon and the original production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, and will examine the basic components of dramatic structure.

Lesson

Class Activity: As a class, define the following literary/dramatic terms: dialogue, monologue, direct address, stage directions, stage left, stage right, upstage, downstage, cast, act, and scene. Examine the introduction to Brighton Beach Memoirs and point out each of these dramatic elements in the cast list and original production notes.

Research Activity: Conduct research on playwright Neil Simon and the original production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. When was the play first produced and where? When did it move to Broadway...

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