Sand Lake Center for the Arts seems to be on a streak of launching fresh productions of old theater chestnuts. Their 2023 production of Boeing Boeing gave me a renewed love for the classic farce. And now, Sand Lake Center for the Arts is presenting the Pulitzer-winning Neil Simon classic Lost in Yonkers with a similarly satisfying combination of fresh eyes and respect for the classic.

Lost in Yonkers is best described as a family dramedy. Following the death of their mother after a prolonged illness, Jay and Arty’s father must take on work as a traveling salesman in order to make enough money to pay back the loan shark from whom he borrowed money to pay for his wife’s treatments. Teenage Jay and Arty are therefore forced to stay in the home of their cold and austere grandmother. Also living in the home is their emotionally and mentally stunted but kindhearted aunt Bella, who is secretly courting a movie usher despite knowing her mother would disapprove of him. Then Jay and Arty’s bombastic mobster uncle Louis returns to his mother’s home under mysterious circumstances. Despite the serious subject matter, Lost in Yonkers is a very funny play. (It is perhaps especially funny to those, like me, with a lot of dysfunction in their extended families and a dark sense of humor about it.)

This production of Simon’s classic has a combination of excellent acting talent and fine production elements. Patrick Fiaschetti is both hilarious and charismatic as Uncle Louis; his presence on stage is a consistent delight despite playing a character with few redeeming qualities. Stephanie Seward’s portrayal of Aunt Bella is similarly delightful, though she is less of a comedic stock character and is instead a simple but kind-hearted woman in a difficult situation whose happiness any audience member will root for. And then, of course, there is the mean old Grandma Kurnitz herself, played by Judi Merriman. Merriman is outstanding in her role, so much so that with every dramatic and belabored walk across the stage she exudes pain and malcontent. But nevertheless, Merriman manages to give her Grandma Kurnitz just enough softness that she can be funny, rather than simply terrifying, and makes it so that there is sympathy from the audience when her vulnerability momentarily shows through her rough exterior.

Sand Lake Center for the Arts has double-cast the leading roles of Jay and Arty Kurnitz, so I can only speak to the talents of one set of actors. The pair that I saw perform were real-life brothers Braelen and Alden Kline, whose real-life relationship probably helped their on-stage chemistry. The brotherly banter between the Kline brothers was superb, as was each one’s banter with other members of the cast. The young actors both did well in their more dramatic moments also, although Braelen betrayed his discomfort with crying on stage in the first scene.

The show comes together with some very attractive stage elements. Most notably, costume designer Kassidi Jarvis has done well to costume the characters in outfits that put one in mind of 1940’s New York. (That is, except for Grandma Kurntiz, whose no-frills attire is more appropriate for a working-class European woman, which Grandma Kurnitz is.) The set, designed by Bob and Sharon Dawes, is also lovely, though perhaps not as spartan and austere as one might imagine Grandma Kurnitz’s home to be. And then I must give special commendations to make-up designer Marcia Marra for the decidedly unattractive but suitably pale and terrifying face of Grandma Kurnitz. This production also adds the stage element of playing old movie clips between scenes, ostensibly as a nod to Bella’s love of movie theaters. I can’t say that these film clips added much to the production, especially since they were warped and strange-looking from being projected onto a three-dimensional stage; but they did at least provide a distraction for the audience between scene changes.

Lost in Yonkers is a classic, and this production is an excellent reminder of why the play is so beloved. I can’t say that Sand Lake Center for the Arts has revolutionized the old and well-loved play, so if you’re looking for something new and avant-garde this is not the play for you. But for those who love a family drama, those with an appreciation for dark comedy, those looking for a period piece from New York City during World War II, or those (like me) who simply love Neil Simon, this play will hit the spot!

Sand Lake Center for the Arts presents Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon at 2880 NY 43 Averill Park, NY. Directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand. Runs from February 16-25, 2024. Producer: Jennifer Dickerson. Stage Manager: Paul Treta. Cast: Jordan M. Radez and Braelen Kline as Jay Kurnitz, James “Vex” Ayers and Alden Kline as Arty Kurnitz, Tim Giles as Eddie Kurnitz, Patrick Fiaschetti as Louis Kurnitz, Stephanie Seward as Bella Kurnitz, Judi Merriman as Grandma Kurnitz, and Jennifer Dickerson as Gert Kurnitz. Set design by Bob & Sharon Dawes. Lighting design by Bob Healy & Josh Horowitz. Visual effects design by Andrew Deitch. Costume design by Kassidi Jarvis. Sound design by Josh Horowitz. Makeup design by Marcia Marra.

Performance dates are Friday-Sunday. Friday, and Saturday curtains are at 7:30pm and Sundays are matinees only at 2:30pm. Tickets are $22, student tickets available for $12. Runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. Contains discussions of parental abuse. Recommended for ages 12+. Tickets are available online at https://slcactp.square.site/product/lost-in-yonkers/126, or at the door for any performance. For more information visit https://www.slca-ctp.org/ or call 518-674-2007.