The Good Doctor (Broadway Theatre Archive)

Rating:
Summary: CROWN JEWELS
Review: From the Broadway Theatre Archive, comes THE GOOD DOCTOR, an extraordinary collection of plays by Neil Simon, one of the most prolific and beloved playwrights of all time. Richard Chamberlain is masterful as the writer, and ties the seven wonderful plays about life together, while performing in several of the portraits. The stories are humorous, touching, sad, and all impact nerves, where the realities of life are stored.

My favorite is THE SEDUCTION, where Richard Chamberlain plays the seducer, who brilliantly uses the seducee's husband, to arouse his own wife's passion and do his wooing for him. The husband's vicarious wooing, proves to also be his undoing.

THE AUDITION, my next favorite, stars the breath-taking Marsha Mason playing an unknown actress, who gives an unexpected, brilliant, audition for Richard Chamberlain, who plays the director. In real-life, and perhaps just like in this play, the great talent of Marsha Mason caught the eye of Neil Simon, and they eventually married.

THE DROWNED MAN, is hilarious, and stars the very funny Bob Dishy. Richard Chamberlain was amazing as the chump, Dishy eventually cons for money. The twist on this story, is very funny, when the chump proves to be rather forgetful.

You will never forget THE ARRANGEMENT, where a father attempts to help his only son become a man, then thinks better of it. This is a very touching story, and is played beautifully by Richard Chamberlain.

This wonderful collection, inspired by Anton Chekhov's early short stories, eloquently captures the comic and serious sides of the 19th Century Russian Bourgeoisie. I believe it is Richard Chamberlain's classiest work.