You pretty much nailed it. The better sitcoms, Seinfled (which often seems like Neil Simon wrote it), Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Sex and the City, provide the same level of entertainment his plays did. Also, the theatre never came up with an alternative. Christopher Durang wrote middling plays for thirty years before he came up with "Sonya, Masha," a genuine hit. It's success is proof that a comedy can thrive on Broadway but it needs to be different from TV and IT MUST HAVE STARS. Also, Broadway has no new plays any longer, only revivals.
As time moves on, Mr. Simon looks better than his detractors, i.e. Brantley, want to admit. In coming decades the major non-profits (Lincoln Center, MTC) will probably all do some Simon, most likely Odd Couple, Sunshine Boys, or some of the later Eugene plays. |
