L’arc en Ciel Theatre Group is reviving a show staged nearly 20 years ago and even bringing back one of that production’s former cast members.
Dinner theater performances of “Lost in Yonkers” run April 13-27 at Great Oaks Banquets in Cedar Lake.
“It’s a show we did at Lake Central,” said Angie Lowe, director of “Lost in Yonkers,” which was staged by L’arc en Ciel Theatre Group predecessor Lake Central Theatre Guild at Lake Central High School in St. John nearly 20 years ago.
“It’s just a wonderful show. It needs to be retooled every once in a while because there’s dialogue in it about World War II and about how people make money from war.”
Written by award-winning playwright, screenwriter and author Neil Simon, “Lost in Yonkers” won the Pulitzer Prize for drama and a Tony Award for best play.
“‘Lost in Yonkers’ is a Neil Simon classic,” said Lowe, of St. John. “It’s a Pulitzer Prize-winning play because it treats subjects of anti-Semitism and greed of war, finance of war and crime. It treats it all. It’s just amazing.
“You don’t win a Pulitzer Prize unless you have a show that says something about society. We saw it on Broadway several times with Mercedes Ruehl who won a Tony for best actress for it. She did the movie too. It’s a great piece.
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“It’s a show for everyone. It’s definitely kid-friendly and family-friendly. The dysfunctional family onstage makes you glad you have your own family. It’s a departure for Neil Simon with a lot of seriousness.”
Set in 1942 in New York, “Lost in Yonkers” focuses on stern Grandma Kurnitz and daughter Bella, son Louie and teenage grandchildren Arty and Jay.
“The father Eddie has to go back on his traveling salesman route because he has to pay for his late wife’s medical bills. That’s a timely issue that fits everybody. He has to leave the boys at his mom’s,” Lowe said.
“She’s going to put them to work in the soda shop and candy store downstairs. Bella, who is slow to wit, will never leave her side. We meet her other son Louie who is mixed up with some mobster henchmen. There’s so much comedy that results from the innocence of the boys.”
Kay Wagman, of Highland, reprises her role as Grandma Kurnitz.
“Kay’s been one of our regulars since she first started working with us in 1995. I’d seen her on stage in a lot of shows. She came out and auditioned in 1995 and played a wonderful, crazy, kooky part in ‘My Favorite Year.’ Since then, she’s been working with us almost once a year,” Lowe said.
“She is widely respected in six or seven theater companies in the area. I love her and think of her more as a sister so she’s wonderful. She’s bringing it all back and then some because now she is almost 20 years older.”
The cast also includes L’arc en Ciel Theatre Group newcomers Sara Solis and her sons Ethan and Julian Solis, of DeMotte; company veterans Bruce Jung, of Dyer, and Matt Stinnett, of Lowell; and Stephanie Stalbaum, of Hebron.
“This is a functional theater family playing a very dysfunctional family,” said Lowe who is working on “Lost in Yonkers” with her husband, Paul Lowe, who has co-designed the set and serves as the show’s tech director.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
‘Lost in Yonkers’
When: 6:30 p.m. April 13-14, 20 and 27; 12:30 p.m. April 15 and 22
Where: Great Oaks Banquets, 13109 S. Wicker Ave., Cedar Lake
Tickets: $35 adults; $33 seniors; $25 ages 13 and younger
Information: 219-374-8000; www.lctg.org