Status
Available
Call number
Publication
A Plume Book (Penguin Group)
Pages
120
Description
Drama. Fiction. HTML: Set in Yonkers, New York in 1942, two boys, aged 13 and 16, must spend one year with their austere and demanding grandmother. While the war rages in Europe, Jay and Arty learn the ropes from Uncle Louie and assorted relatives, all peculiar characters..
Description
Neil Simon’s inimitable play about the trials and tribulations that test family ties – winner of the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for DramaWhat happens to children in the absence of love? That is the question that lies at the heart of this funny and heartrending play by one of America's most acclaimed and beloved playwrights. Debuting at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in 1990, Lost in Yonkers went on to win four Tony Awards, including Best Play, as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and tells the moving drama about the cruelties and painful memories that scar a family.
It is New York, 1942. After the death of their mother, two young brothers are sent to stay with their formidable grandmother for the longest ten months of their lives. Grandmother Kurnitz is a one-woman German front—a refugee and a widow who has steeled her heart against the world. Her coldness and intolerance have crippled her own children: the boys' father has no self-esteem . . . their Aunt Gert has an embarrassing speech impediment . . . their Uncle Louie is a small-time gangster . . . and their Aunt Bella has the mentality of a child. But it is Bella's hunger for affection and her refusal to be denied love that saves the boys—and that leads to an unforgettable, wrenching confrontation with her mother. Filled with laughter, tears, and insight, Lost in Yonkers is yet another heartwarming testament to Neil Simon's talent.
It is New York, 1942. After the death of their mother, two young brothers are sent to stay with their formidable grandmother for the longest ten months of their lives. Grandmother Kurnitz is a one-woman German front—a refugee and a widow who has steeled her heart against the world. Her coldness and intolerance have crippled her own children: the boys' father has no self-esteem . . . their Aunt Gert has an embarrassing speech impediment . . . their Uncle Louie is a small-time gangster . . . and their Aunt Bella has the mentality of a child. But it is Bella's hunger for affection and her refusal to be denied love that saves the boys—and that leads to an unforgettable, wrenching confrontation with her mother. Filled with laughter, tears, and insight, Lost in Yonkers is yet another heartwarming testament to Neil Simon's talent.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1991
Physical description
120 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
9780452268838
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User reviews
LibraryThing member hvaluet
While the story was interesting and had a lot of dramatic points, I found myself unsatisfied with the ending. I didn't feel that anything was accomplished or any major lesson was learned. It was just a story that started and ended pretty much the same way. One good point was the author's use of
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humor. The dialog was very comedic at certain points. It was kind of hard to tell who the main character was supposed to be or what the main conflict of the plot was in the play, which is why I think I was dissatisfied with it. I guess you could say I kind of got Lost in Yonkers as well as the characters. I think this would be a good read for any teens who like reading about family dramas or historical time periods. Show Less
Awards
Pulitzer Prize (Winner — Drama — 1991)
Tony Award (Winner — Play — 1991)
Drama Desk Award (Winner — 1990-1991)
Outer Critics Circle Award (Winner — 1990-1991)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 1993)
Call number
FIC E Sim