HPU puts on the humorous, poignant 'Broadway Bound'

By Joseph T. Rozmiarek
Advertiser Drama Critic

Gene DeFrancis plays the narrator, Eugene; Sharon Adair is Kate; and Derek Calibre is Stan in "Broadway Bound" at Hawai'i Pacific University. Hawai'i Pacific University 'Broadway Bound' 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 5 (no performance on Thanksgiving, Nov. 25; instead, a 7:30 p.m. performance will be given Nov. 24) Hawai'i Pacific University Theatre, Windward campus $20; $14 seniors, military, students, HPU faculty and staff; $3 HPU students 375-1282

Neil Simon's "Broadway Bound" juxtaposes that curious relationship between funny and sad as it chronicles the dissolution of the Jerome family just as its protagonist Eugene gets his first big break at becoming a professional comic writer. The play is the last in an autobiographical trilogy that includes "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Biloxi Blues" and is directed by Joyce Maltby at Hawai'i Pacific University.

"Broadway Bound" represents a gifted writer's ability to tell a sad story in a humorous way. It mixes the young hero's bravado against an unknown future with the mature playwright's ability to look backward and chuckle at dark memories.

This kind of 20th century American realism is Maltby's forte, and she has assembled a small cast of seasoned performers and HPU regulars who populate the story without a false note.

Sharon Adair plays the mother who has spent a lifetime caring for her family and traveling no farther than a subway could take her. Her family includes an aged and mentally rambling father, two adult sons ready to leave the nest, and a distant and aloof husband who is deep into an emotional attachment to another woman.

Adair fairly radiates pain and barely controlled outrage in her scenes with husband Jack Jerome — played with introspective self-absorption by John Hunt as the play's least likeable character.

Her relationship with her son is best revealed in a waltz around the dining room table. It's a memory sequence of the time she ballroom danced with George Raft and, as Eugene coaxes his mother into the moment, the scene comes alive with humanity and warmth, balancing and underscoring her developing personal tragedy.

Jim Tharp brings his knack for self-depreciating understatement to the role of Grandpa Ben and Virginia Jones is wealthy Aunt Blanche, failing in her attempt to change circumstances by throwing resources at them.

Gene DeFrancis is the focal point as Eugene, providing narration and access to the characters through his recollection. He keeps the role appropriately upbeat, revealing the family drama without becoming swamped by it. Derek Calibre appears as elder brother Stan, given to emotional extremes.

"Broadway Bound" stands on its own as a moving depiction of family conflict, success, and failure. It's also an interesting study in the playwright's ability to reach into memory to capture emotion, yet preserve the professional detachment necessary to art.

It's an actor's play and the HPU ensemble rises to it.