By Elisa Villanueva @BBElisacats
If you think your family is dysfunctional, think again.
Friday March 31 through Sunday April 9, students and the public can come watch the performance of Brighton Beach Memoirs, presented by the theater department.
The play, written by Neil Simon, is a semi-autobiographical story that takes place in Brooklyn in 1937.
The main character, Eugene Jerome, is a 15-year-old boy whose main interests include baseball, writing and girls.
Throughout the play, audience members will follow Eugene’s joys and struggles in life and dealing with his family.
Eugene is played by rookie Arsalan Khan. This is Khan’s first role in a Las Positas play. “I got help (auditioning) from my favorite professor, Titian Lish,” Khan said.
Eugene’s mother, Kate, is one of the main characters in the play. Kate is determined but also seen as overwhelming to her family.
Kaitlin Bailey, who is considered the veteran of the cast, as this is her seventh role while being apart of LPC theater department, plays Kate.
Another main character is Eugene’s father, Jack, played by Kody Forbes. He’s a hard-working father who also wants to help and listen to other’s problems.
“Everyone has at least one scene where they cry, except me. I just yell.” Forbes said humorously.
Stanley Jerome wraps up the casting of the immediate family as Eugene’s older brother. Stanley, who is played by Chris Granlund, cannot afford to go to school. Instead, he works to help out his family.
Other characters/cast include his widowed aunt Blanche Morton (Kaitlyn Davenport), and his two cousins Nora (Geneva May Colcol) and Laurie Morton (Stephanie Reinheimer.)
Brighton Beach Memoirs is relatable throughout, as most cast members of the play have said.
“I can relate to every single character in this play,” Granlund said.
Poverty, cultural differences and family problems are only some of the topics brought up throughout the play that audience members could find relatable.
“It’s a really great connection to family,” Forbes said.
According to Director Ken Ross, Brighton Beach Memoirs is “hilarious, but also serious, with substance.”
“We’re working very hard, but we are having fun,” Ross said.
The performances of Brighton Beach Memoirs will be Friday, March 31 and April 7, and Saturday, April 1 and 8 at 8 p.m. There will also be performances on Sunday, April 2 and 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets to all performances are $15 general admission and $10 for students/staff/seniors/military.
Students, staff, military and seniors can buy tickets for $10 and general admission can buy tickets for $15. To purchase advanced tickets, go to laspositas.edu/performingarts.