Role Play: Lost In Yonkers By Neil Simon

Lost in Yonkers, is a play written by Neil Simon. This play won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. First, let me acknowledge the handwork that was manifested in this marvelous play. This Germans-Jewish American family resided in Yonkers, New York during WWII. I love the fact that this play is multicultural, so there is a significance for it in a literacy lesson. I can see myself as a teacher using this book as a form of role play, where the students can have fun while bringing the characters and their emotions to life. I now present a summary, two young boys by the name of Jay and Arty, is forced to live with their emasculating, cold-hearted grandmother for a year until their father Eddie can clear his nine-thousand-dollar debt. Grandmother

Uncle Louie who is a gangster is seen to his nephews as a henchman. Aunt Bella who has a kind and or brain disorder, so, therefore, she has a child-like mentality and Aunt Gert that has a speech impairment. Under grandma Kurnitz intensive conditions, both Jay and Arty must struggle to survive in a house without love and warmth. While going through a rough time due to the loss of their mother from cancer. The harsh treatments quickly changed these innocent boys in becoming more independent, anything else would be a sign of weakness or

The grandmother who is miserable and mean to everyone, throughout the play she played her part well. There was a time in the story where she took the candies and pretzel behind Jay 's back and him to pay for them even though he takes it. He was so upset, he wanted to leave Uncle Louie to be a gangster to help his father so he could be able to come back for them. Another humorous moment was when Aunt Bella, would constantly go to the movies, and she met an usher name Johnny there and within 10 days he asked her to marry him. She wanted to but scared her mom would say no, and saying yes to giving her five thousand dollars for Johnny to open a restaurant. This was hilarious, who in their right state of mind, meet a guy and say yes to marrying him after such short time meeting