“Biloxi Blues” at Your Theatre

by Richard Pacheco

            Your Theatre’s current production of Neil Simon’s “Biloxi Blues” is a fun and sometimes touching romp through army life during World War II. “Biloxi Blues” is a semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon. This play is the second chapter in what is known as his Eugene trilogy, following “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and preceding “Broadway Bound.”   It won the Tony for best play, and drama desk for outstanding new play among other awards.

The story involves 20-year-old Eugene Morris Jerome from Brooklyn, who is drafted into the United States Army during World War II and is sent to Biloxi, Mississippi, for basic training. Eugene learns to cope with fellow soldiers from all walks of life and all areas of the country and his desire to fall in love, and loses his virginity (under less than ideal circumstances), and become a writer, all while having to navigate around the eccentricities of his drill instructor.

Zane Furtado is Eugene Morris Jerome, Simon’s alter ego in the play, a young aspiring write who want to lose his virginity, find love and become a writer all in his trip to the army. Eugene is a thoughtful young man, who observes everything in distinct detail, in particular the behavior of his fellow soldiers and his observations are recorded in his journal which he keeps in hit usually locked footlocker. Furtado is charming as Eugene, full of an innocence and shrewd observation that is immensely appealing. He is delightful in the role, engaging and sympathetic.

Sgt. Merwin J. Toomey is Eugene’s arch enemy in boot camp, a man determined to break the spirit of individuality of all the recruits in order to make them into a cohesive, determined, follow orders batch of determined soldiers. He has one way of doing things, his way.  He allows for no variance and shows no compassion of tolerance. There is only the arm’s way, hence Sgt. Toomey’s way of doing things or no way. He is gruff, tough and relentless to his recruits. Chris Mac is Toomey and he delivers dazzling performance as a man with a mission. He manages to convey sincerity about his concern for the recruits behind the reason he is hard as nails, he wants them to survive and sincerely believes the only way he can do that is to break their individual wills and meld them into obedient soldiers who follow orders without hesitation or question.

Then there is the Jewish intellectual the somewhat meek milquetoast Arnold Epstein. Epstein hates any sort of conformity and often rants about Talmudic wisdom and logic and how he bases his life on that. He resists Sgt. Toomey with all his will, every inch of the way, determined not to succumb to the bullying and threats he endures. He even faces being an outcast with the other recruits in his stubborn persistence to remain above it all. He has a shrewd intelligence that is impressive even at his most stubborn and recalcitrant. David O’Connell portrays him with skill and ingenuity, a deft blend of intelligence and willfulness. O’Connell delivers a fine blend of defiance and honest intelligence.

The rest of the recruits are equally motley and different in their make up. There is Wykowski, who calls himself a dumb Polak. He is a bear of a man, who lumbers through everything with sheer animal instinct. He dislikes Jews, or at least Epstein and Jerome,  and loads of others. He is boorish and crude.  He is more than a bit of a bully and stubborn.  He takes offense easily and reacts harshly. Christopher McIntyre delivers a solid performance as the rough and tumble, crude and raw Wykowski.

Then there is Don Carney, the only black solider in the group. He likes to think of himself as a singer and often sings in his sleep, but the problem is he is a bit flat to put it mildly. He fancies himself a real Frank Sinatra type and dreams of a record contract and floods of women falling at his feet. But he’s in decisive and can’t seem to make his mind up about anything. Wil Berthaud Jr. handles the role with flair and a sense of playfulness that is appealing. He has a strong sense of comic timing.

Joel Ward is Roy Selridge, a likeable lanky guy who lacks imagination and is an attentive audience for Wycowksi. He has no clue about geography. Ward is solid as Selridge, serving as an apt devotee of Wycowksi’s tirades and rants, offering often non verbal support.

David Martin is James Hennesey, the final recruit. He quickly shows his sensitive side when they play a game to tell what they would do with only a week to live. He says he would spend it with his family. He also stands up to the bullying Wycowksi when he reads from Jerome’s diary ot the others and calls it an invasion of privacy. Martin is smooth in the role and effective.

Suzanne Bergeron is the prostitute Rowena, a woman who does not consider herself a pro because she only does it on weekends and her husband knows about it all anyway. Begeron is convincing as the sultry pro with the non-nonsense practical approach to sex, and everything else.

Cassie Porter is charming as the young woman Eugene falls in love with, the super Catholic Daisy Hannigan. She is a delight, full of an awkward, fresh innocence and shyness that is engaging and appealing.

Director Larry Hourbre Jr. keeps the pacing usually deft and fast.  He moves his cast with finesse and assurance.

The set by Houbre is highly effective, fluid and changeable to cover all the various locations it shifts walls in and out of position with ease.

The costumes by Suzanne Bergeron are highly effective from the uniforms to her prostitute outfit and Daisy’s dress.

The play is often funny, but has its share of serious moments. It is fun to watch.

Your Theatre until Sept.22 All tickets $15
136 Rivet Street, New Bedford, MA
508-993-0772 http://yourtheatre.org/yti/index.php