Toomey demands that the thief step forward and Epstein places money on Wykowski's footlocker. When the soldiers are about to go on a two-day leave, Wykowski reports that his money has been stolen. Toomey ends it, but Jerome feels badly because for not defending Epstein. The men argue about Jerome's selection and Wykowski makes Anti-Semitic remarks, which leads to a confrontation between him and Epstein. Jerome chooses Epstein's fantasy of making Toomey do 200 push-ups. They each pay five dollars, and Jerome agrees to judge the stories and pick a winner. One evening, Jerome proposes that each man share his fantasy of how he would spend his final days if he had only a week to live. Toomey also eventually comes to respect Epstein’s refusal to submit. While the other privates try to avoid Toomey’s ire, they admire Epstein’s determination. Toomey imposes increasingly harsher punishments in an effort to break him, but Epstein refuses to compromise. Toomey imposes arbitrary rules and metes out harsh punishments.Įpstein refuses to accept Toomey's authority. The new privates are trained by Sergeant Toomey, a wounded veteran with a steel plate in his head. Jerome keeps a journal to record his impressions of his fellow draftees. He is sent to basic training at Camp Shelby near Biloxi, Mississippi. Jerome sets three goals - lose his virginity, survive the war, and become a writer. Simon's first serious attempt to examine his conscience as an artist and a Jew.During World War II, Jewish, Brooklyn teenager Eugene Jerome is drafted into the United States Army. Responseįrank Rich wrote: "Besides being extremely funny, Biloxi Blues is Mr. Jamey Sheridan replaced William Sadler as Sgt. Matthew Broderick was succeeded by Bruce Norris, Zach Galligan, William Ragsdale, and Jonathan Silverman. Sources:Internet Broadway Database The New York Times Emanuel Azenberg served as producer in association with Center Theatre Group/ Ahmanson Theatre. Scenic Design was by David Mitchell, costume design by Ann Roth, and lighting design by Tharon Musser. Directed by Gene Saks, the cast starred Barry Miller as Arnold and Matthew Broderick as Eugene.
īiloxi Blues opened on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre on Maand closed on Jafter 524 performances and 12 previews. It then ran at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco from February 6 through March 9, 1985. Productionīiloxi Blues had its world premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, California, running from Decemto February 2, 1985. In a memorable scene, Epstein manages to force Toomey to perform two hundred push-ups in front of the platoon. The piece portrays Epstein's struggle for power with middle-aged, hard-drinking platoon leader Sergeant Merwin J. There he meets a diverse assortment of soldiers, including the gentle and intelligent Arnold Epstein, who is the play's central figure. The story begins with 18-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. The play won the Tony Award for Best Play, and Barry Miller won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as Arnold Epstein. This play is the second chapter in what is known as his Eugene trilogy, following Brighton Beach Memoirs and preceding Broadway Bound, and is the only one in which Eugene is not the central character. Toomey and Arnold Epstein, one of many privates enlisted in the military stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi, seen through the eyes of Eugene Jerome, one of the other soldiers. It portrays the conflict of Sergeant Merwin J. Toomey James Hennesey Roy SelridgeĮugene Trilogy: Brighton Beach Memoirs Biloxi Blues Broadway BoundĪ Jewish boy from Brooklyn undergoes basic Army training in the Deep Southīiloxi Blues is a semi- autobiographical play by Neil Simon. JSTOR ( September 2009) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Īrnold Epstein Eugene Morris Jerome Rowena Daisy Hannigan Joseph Wykowski Don Carney Sgt.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This article needs additional citations for verification.