Neil Simon Plaza Suite
SANWAL
Saturday-Night Theatre Sat 1st Jul 1989, 19:45 on BBC Radio 4 FM Plaza Suite BBC Radio Drama presents the LA Classic Theater Works in the first radio production of Neil Simon's highly-acclaimed three-part stage play. With Ed Asner, Marsha Mason, Hector Elizondo, Alfred Molina, Joe Spano and JoBeth Williams. With special appearances by Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving. Each part takes place in the same suite in the Plaza Hotel, New York: 1: Visitor from Mamaroneck 2: Visitor from Hollywood 3: Visitor from Forest Hills Directed by Martin Jenkins Karen Nash: Marsha Mason Sam Nash: Joe Spano Bellhop: Kerry Shale* Waiter: Alfred Molina* Jean McCormack *: Michele Costa Jesse Kiplinger: Hector Elizondo Muriel Tate: Jobeth Williams Norma Hubley: Marsha Mason Roy Hubley: Ed Asner Mimsey Hubley: Amy Irving Borden Eisler: Richard Dreyfuss (* guest artists) The play is composed of three acts, each involving different characters but all set in Suite 719 of New York City's Plaza Hotel. The first act, Visitor From Mamaroneck, introduces the audience to not-so-blissfully wedded couple Sam and Karen Nash, who are revisiting their honeymoon suite in an attempt by Karen to bring the love back into their marriage. Her plan backfires and the two become embroiled in a heated argument about whether or not Sam is having an affair with his secretary. The act ends with Sam leaving (allegedly to attend to urgent business) and Karen sadly reflecting on how much things have changed since they were young. The second act, Visitor from Hollywood, involves a meeting between movie producer Jesse Kiplinger and his old flame, suburban housewife Muriel Tate. Muriel - aware of his reputation as a smooth-talking ladies' man - has come for nothing more than a chat between old friends, promising herself she will not stay too long. Jesse, however, has other plans in mind and repeatedly attempts to seduce her. The third act, Visitor from Forest Hills, revolves around married couple Roy and Norma Hubley on their daughter Mimsey's wedding day. In a rush of nervousness, Mimsey has locked herself in the suite's bathroom and refuses to leave. This is the most comic of the acts, filled with increasingly outrageous slapstick moments depicting her parents' frantic attempts to cajole her into attending her wedding while the gathered guests await the trio's arrival downstairs. The scene ends and they finally get married.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.
Chapters
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