The setting of the play is a Long Island mansion. The household consists of a pious, God-fearing tycoon named Joe Benjamin and his family: a long-suffering wife, Rose, a prodigal son, David, a pair of unique and quirky twins, Ben and Sarah, and the maid and butler, Mady and Morris. One night a messenger from God, Sidney Lipton (with a big G on his sweatshirt[2]) arrives, and, as in the biblical story, goes through all manner of temptations to get Joe Benjamin to renounce God. When he refuses, he is visited by all the afflictions imaginable. He stands firm and the messenger has to admit defeat.
... this may be Mr. Simon's most imaginative play, it is not one of his better works. Not only is the opening slow, but also the ending is anticlimactic. If you have exploited tragedy for its humor, how do you get around a happy ending? ... More than any other Simon play, God's Favorite depends heavily on its staging and setting. Michael Bennett's direction lets all God break loose. ... William Ritman's collapsing mansion is some of the most fiendish theatrical real estate we have seen in years.[2]
Thomas S. Hischak (Professor of Performing Arts, SUNY Cortland) wrote that Simon had been writing about "serious issues" in his last several plays, but "stumbled awkwardly" with God's Favorite. Hischak described the play as a "modern version of the story of Job that moved into schtick the closer it edged to genuine grief". Hischak noted that Simon had said that the play was written "as a reaction to his wife's untimely death from cancer".[4]
The pre-production of God's Favorite was chronicled on a January 1975 edition of the CBS News program 60 Minutes.[5]
Referencesedit
^Konas, Gary (1997). Neil Simon: A Casebook. Taylor & Francis. ISBN0-8153-2132-5.
^ abcdBarnes, Clive (12 December 1974). "God's Favorite is Simon's Job on L.I.". The New York Times. p. 59.
^ ab"'God's Favorite" Listing" Internet Broadway Database listing, accessed April 9, 2012
^Hischak, Thomas S. (2001). "1969–1975". American Theatre: A chronicle of comedy and drama, 1969–2000. Oxford University Press. p. 81. ISBN0-19-512347-6 – via books.google.com.
^Obsolete Video (2019-05-26), KABC-7 KNXT-2 1973-4 60 Minutes, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2019-05-26 (via YouTube; segment begins at 2:42)
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to God's Favorite.
God's Favorite (Neil Simon) Samuel French
November 25, 2023
favorite, this, article, about, neil, simon, play, 2002, album, album, play, neil, simon, loosely, based, biblical, book, produced, broadway, 1974, contents, production, plot, overview, reception, references, external, linksproduction, editproduced, emanuel, a. This article is about the Neil Simon play For the 2002 N O R E album see God s Favorite album God s Favorite is a play by Neil Simon loosely based on the Biblical Book of Job 1 It was produced on Broadway in 1974 Contents 1 Production 2 Plot overview 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksProduction editProduced by Emanuel Azenberg the play opened on Broadway at the Eugene O Neill Theatre on December 11 1974 2 and closed on March 23 1975 after 119 performances and seven previews 3 Directed by Michael Bennett with Assistant Director Bob Avian the cast featured Vincent Gardenia Joe Benjamin Maria Karnilova Rose Benjamin and Charles Nelson Reilly Sidney Lipton Scenic design was by William Ritman costumes were by Joseph G Aulisi and lighting was by Tharon Musser 2 3 Plot overview editThe setting of the play is a Long Island mansion The household consists of a pious God fearing tycoon named Joe Benjamin and his family a long suffering wife Rose a prodigal son David a pair of unique and quirky twins Ben and Sarah and the maid and butler Mady and Morris One night a messenger from God Sidney Lipton with a big G on his sweatshirt 2 arrives and as in the biblical story goes through all manner of temptations to get Joe Benjamin to renounce God When he refuses he is visited by all the afflictions imaginable He stands firm and the messenger has to admit defeat Reception editClive Barnes in his review for The New York Times wrote this may be Mr Simon s most imaginative play it is not one of his better works Not only is the opening slow but also the ending is anticlimactic If you have exploited tragedy for its humor how do you get around a happy ending More than any other Simon play God s Favorite depends heavily on its staging and setting Michael Bennett s direction lets all God break loose William Ritman s collapsing mansion is some of the most fiendish theatrical real estate we have seen in years 2 Thomas S Hischak Professor of Performing Arts SUNY Cortland wrote that Simon had been writing about serious issues in his last several plays but stumbled awkwardly with God s Favorite Hischak described the play as a modern version of the story of Job that moved into schtick the closer it edged to genuine grief Hischak noted that Simon had said that the play was written as a reaction to his wife s untimely death from cancer 4 The pre production of God s Favorite was chronicled on a January 1975 edition of the CBS News program 60 Minutes 5 References edit Konas Gary 1997 Neil Simon A Casebook Taylor amp Francis ISBN 0 8153 2132 5 a b c d Barnes Clive 12 December 1974 God s Favorite is Simon s Job on L I The New York Times p 59 a b God s Favorite Listing Internet Broadway Database listing accessed April 9 2012 Hischak Thomas S 2001 1969 1975 American Theatre A chronicle of comedy and drama 1969 2000 Oxford University Press p 81 ISBN 0 19 512347 6 via books google com Obsolete Video 2019 05 26 KABC 7 KNXT 2 1973 4 60 Minutes archived from the original on 2021 12 21 retrieved 2019 05 26 via YouTube segment begins at 2 42 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to God s Favorite God s Favorite Neil Simon Samuel French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title God 27s Favorite amp oldid 1133429083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
