The third production of the 2016–2017 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh theatre season, A Wayward World, opens on Thursday, March 2, with Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor, directed by Merlaine Angwall.
Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 5.
A synopsis of Laughter on the 23rd Floor: It’s the Golden Age of Television: amid the 1950s racism, sexism and McCarthyism, Americans laughed out loud every week watching Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows, which “Laughter” transforms into the fictional “Max Prince Show.” Lucas—Neil Simon’s alter ego—is the new guy in the writers’ room, hoping to become a permanent part of the team. But the network bosses intend to cut the budget by firing one of the writers. So, the harried writing staff frantically scrambles to top each other with gags while competing for the attention of star madman Max Prince.
“‘Laughter’ is one of Neil Simon’s most delightful plays. In this play, Simon takes a humorous look at the “Mad Men” era. The play is nostalgic; it was a time when Americans dressed up to go shopping, travel and go to the office—people drank martini’s at lunch! The play also illustrates the some of the not-so-nice influences of the 1950’s, such as racism, Communist witch hunts and sexism. But it is a lovely play, and ‘Laughter on the 23rd Floor’ is a funny look back at a by-gone era with many of the same issues we struggle with today,” Angwall said.
Ticket prices are $14 for general, $11 for senior citizen or alumni and $5 for UWO students with ID; tickets may be purchased at the box office, which is open weekdays noon to 4 p.m. and one hour before each performance.
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