Customer Reviews

Biloxi Blues

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Despite Simon's reputation among some of the literati, this is not merely "theater that works." There are plenty of chuckles, but Simon manages to score some worthwhile points--about the "sanity" of army regulations; homophobia and its victims; anti-Semitism (even among those of the same heritage); questions about authorship and the rights, privileges and "authority" of the writer; and, perhaps above all, insensitive treatment of one's "own" that equals if not exceeds the animus directed toward the "declared" enemy. At the same time, the characters, at least by this time, are all fairly stereotypical "types," which places squarely on the shoulders of the actors the challenge of bringing each to life, individualizing them in the process.

The play, to my mind, could be reduced by 20 minutes without harm to the characters or themes. (The soldier who is court-marshalled on the charge of committing a deviant sexual act is required, following the sergeant's orders, to take literally minutes of the spectator's time as he suits up in view of his company--a protracted silent space that, while intended to emphasize the drama of his public humiliation, soon evokes more impatience and boredom than drama.)

Simon misses an opportunity to score a point for women by not having the prostitute and the idealistic "girl next door" (i.e. the one who is "the love of every young man's life") played by the same actress. Since she is little more than a symbol in both cases, using the same actress for both roles would emphasize the point that the difference between the prostitute and the virgin is a property belonging not as much to either character as to the eye of the beholder (and, no doubt, the eyes of the audience as well).

After most Simon plays that I've seen--as enjoyable, and frequently well-intended, as they are--I'm left asking the question: what was the main point? the purpose? the "thesis"?

This play was no exception.

I feel that neil simon is one of the best playwrights ever. His play Biloxi Blues shows his talent to express what he knows most about comedy. I'm not much of a reader but I give this play a thumbs up definetly!!!

Biloxi Blues was the second of the 'Memoir' trilogy that I read. I laughed out loud most of the time which is odd. Usually when an author is trying to be funny...it's not. Simon can express his sense of humor in a way that is actually humorous. I didn't know it could be done! I'm not an avid reader, and maybe it's because of this lack of humanity and stupidity that I am repelled. I plan to finnish this trilogy as soon as I can get my hands on 'Broadway Bound.' "HO!"

This book is about a young Jewish man Eugene Morris Jerome and his thoughts and trials through the United States Army in the early 1940's during World War 2. In the beginning Eugene sets out to accomplish three goals while he is on his journey through the army. The three goals were to become a writer to have sex for the first time and most impotant of all not get killed.
In my opinion this is a very good book for the person who isn't really into the long drawn out novel type of books. This book isn't a book for virgin ears or in other words in some cases the reading gets kind of vulgar. Yet at the same time Neil Simon also does something I have never had happen to me before. He really stunned me when he not only made the book feel so real and personal, in some cases but he also challenged me and in the end really made you think about what just happened.
This book is for any gender male or female who are mature in there own sense. Neil Simon goes all out from the males point of view in the 1940's and in the army. It not only is very funny and amusing to read but also gives you the reader a good look on what goes through a guys head. It is very interesting, yet so true and personally (in its hundred and some pages which is very cool in its own right) I found myself wanting to read more and I couldn't put the book down. So for all the readers out there who love straight to the point literature that is not only hilarious to read but has a truth to it this book is for you.

"Biloxi Blues" is nothing like "Brighton Beach Memoirs," so if you're hoping for more of the same, don't bother. Eugene is very different; more mature (still obsessed with sex, nonetheless.). The humor is much more crude than the first play, and much darker. Eugene is not in this play a lot, which may explain my lack of laughing. I couldn't warm up to any of the characters like I did in "Brighton Beach Memoirs." Even though I was disappointed with this play, I'll still read the third play of this trilogy. I do not recommend.