Prospect finds the humor in ‘The Prisoner of Second Avenue’

Mass layoffs, economic collapse and urban decay walk onto a stage. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

Neil Simon’s play “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” may deal with serious topics, but it still aims straight for the funny bone. Downtown Modesto’s Prospect Theater Project opens its season with the classic 1971 dark comedy Friday, Sept. 18.

The production features Prospect veteran David Barbaree as the titular “Prisoner,” Mel Edison. The role of the middle-age ad man who loses his job in the midst of a garbage strike in New York City was played on Broadway by Peter Falk in the Tony Award-winning production and by Jack Lemmon in a 1975 film version.

This is the Modesto company’s first foray into popular playwright Simon’s work.

“A lot of people who have us pegged for never doing popular plays were really surprised to hear we’re doing it. But we’ve never avoided comedies; we do a lot more than people notice,” Barbaree said. “(This play) is consistent with our mission to bring plays that are timely and relevant and thought-provoking. When you read this play, what stands out is how eerily relevant it is to what’s going on today.”

The 1970s themes still ring true with discussions of economic downsizing, police abuse, urban unrest and more.

“It’s about the deterioration of society, finding out the status quo and system you depended on has deteriorated to the point he can’t rely on it,” Barbaree said. “It was written in 1971, when millions of people were moving out of New York and the world seemed to be falling apart. And now, in 2015, people are wondering if America still has the stamina and strength to stand up to what it takes to be an adult.”

Robin Hysong Bjerke plays Ed’s wife, Edna, who goes back to work to support them after the layoff. The Prospect production also stars local actors Bill Roe, Mary Pieczarka and Phyllis Dakil Duncan and is directed by Sean Trew.

The Prospect season continues with the historical drama “The Whipping Man” on Nov. 20; the one-woman play “The Belle of Amherst” on Jan. 8; Pulitzer Prize-winning classic “Death of a Salesman” on Feb. 5; and romantic comedy “The Clean House” on April 22.

Barbaree jokes that the company is doing two “Death of a Salesman” productions this year – one the original drama and the other Simon’s comedy “Prisoner.”

“This play is about a man who, after spending his whole life working in this company, gets fired. But he says he is not done with life yet, still had worth,” he said. “So it ties in with the season very well. We’re talking about whether people are valuable or expendable.”

Yet for its heavy subject matter, “Prisoner” manages to find the humor in a bad situation. The play features a string of one-liners and humorous situations through it all.

“It’s so funny; that’s the really weird thing,” Barbaree said. “If you’re not Mel Edison, it’s pretty dang funny.”

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Prospect finds the humor in ‘The Prisoner of Second Avenue’."