Editing Chapter Two (play)

{{Short description|Play by Neil Simon}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox play
| name       = Chapter Two
| image      = ChapterTwoPlaybill.jpg
| caption    = ''[[Playbill]]'' cover
| writer     = [[Neil Simon]]
| chorus     = 
| characters =   
| mute       = 
| setting    = 
| premiere   = October 7, 1977
| place      = [[Ahmanson Theatre]]<br />Los Angeles
| orig_lang  = 
| series     = 
| subject    = A writer struggles to escape the memory of his recently deceased wife
| genre      = Comedy-drama
| web        = 
}}

'''''Chapter Two''''' is a semi-autobiographical play by [[Neil Simon]]. The play premiered on Broadway in 1977, where it ran for 857 performances.

==History==
According to Sheridan Morley, "This was in some ways the turning-point for Simon, the moment when he started to use his own life as something more than an excuse for a gag-fest. It was written as a tribute to Marsha Mason, his second wife, and her tolerance with his long-lasting grief over the death of his first wife...There is something very painful here, in among the gags, about a man trying to come to terms with death rather than a new life."<ref name=morley>Morley, Sheridan. [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/28/style/28iht-lon.t_2.html "Choice of Plays for the In-Laws"] ''The New York Times'', February 28, 1996</ref>

==Overview==
The play focuses on a recently widowed writer, George Schneider, who is introduced by his press agent brother to soap opera actress Jennie Malone. Jennie's marriage to a football player has dissolved after six years. Both are uncertain of their readiness to start dating and developing a new romance when her breakup is so recent and he still has recurring memories of his deceased wife, Barbara.

Neil Simon's first wife, Joan Baim, died in 1973.

==Productions==
===Stage===
The play had its world premiere at the Los Angeles [[Ahmanson Theatre]] on October 7, 1977, closing November 26. Produced by [[Emanuel Azenberg]] and directed by [[Herbert Ross]], the cast included: [[Judd Hirsch]] as George, [[Anita Gillette]] as Jennie, [[Cliff Gorman]] as Leo, and [[Ann Wedgeworth]] as Faye.<ref>[http://www.centertheatregroup.org/_pdf/Ahmanson_Production_History.doc "Ahmanson Theatre production history"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214043722/http://www.centertheatregroup.org/_pdf/Ahmanson_Production_History.doc |date=December 14, 2007 }} centertheatregroup.org</ref> The production won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards (1977–78): Distinguished Production; and Neil Simon, Distinguished Playwriting.<ref>[https://http  "Ahmanson Theatre Awards"]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114075411/https://http/ |date=January 14, 2016 }} centertheatregroup.org (webcache), December 2007, accessed April 11, 2012</ref>

The play opened on Broadway at the [[Imperial Theatre (Broadway)|Imperial Theatre]] on December 4, 1977, and transferred to the [[Eugene O'Neill Theatre]] in January 1979, where it closed on December 8, 1979 after 857 performances and seven previews.<ref name=bway>[http://www.playbill.com/production/chapter-two-imperial-theatre-vault-0000006040# ''Chapter Two''] Playbill, retrieved October 16, 2017</ref> The Los Angeles cast reprised their roles on Broadway. Cast replacements included [[David Groh]], [[Dick Latessa]], [[Laurence Luckinbill]], [[Robin Strasser]], and [[Susan Browning]].

The play received four 1978 Tony Award nominations: [[Tony Award for Best Play]]; Anita Gillette for [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play]] and Cliff Gorman for [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play]].<ref>[http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4031 " ''Chapter Two'', Awards and nominations"] Internet Broadway Database, accessed April 11, 2012</ref><ref name=bway/> Ann Wedgeworth won the 1978 [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play]].<ref>Thomas, Robert McG., Jr. "Ain't Misbehavin" and Da Win Tonys", ''The New York Times'', June 5, 1978, p.C18</ref>

The play premiered in the [[West End theatre|West End]] at the [[Gielgud Theatre]] in February 1996, with [[Tom Conti]] and [[Sharon Gless]].<ref name=morley/><ref>Hanks, Robert. [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/with-all-the-wig-in-the-world-1320270.html "Neil Simon's 'Chapter Two' is not a patch on Woody Allen's Annie Hall"] ''The Independent'' (London), 22 February 1996</ref> Gless later recorded a two-disc audiobook of the play with [[David Dukes]] for LA TheatreWorks.

===Television===
A portion of the ''Chapter Two'' 1977 play and ''[[Chapter Two (film)|Chapter Two]]'' (1979 movie) were used in the plot of the sitcom ''[[Seinfeld]]''{{'}}s [[Seinfeld (season 3)|third season]]'s episode: "[[The Letter (Seinfeld)|The Letter]], Season 3, Episode 20".<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697720/movieconnections?ref_=tttrv_ql_6 "Movie Connections for Seinfeld, The Letter"] [[IMDb]]. Retrieved April 22, 2014.</ref>

===Film===
{{Main|Chapter Two (film)}}
Simon adapted the play for the 1979 film version ''[[Chapter Two (film)|Chapter Two]]''. It was directed by [[Robert Moore (director)|Robert Moore]] with [[James Caan]] and Simon's then-wife [[Marsha Mason]], the inspiration for character Jennie.<ref>Passafiume, Andrea.  [https://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/276864 Chapter Two] [[Turner Classic Movies]], accessed April 11, 2012</ref> Caan said he made the film to earn some money while preparing for ''[[Hide in Plain Sight]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Movies: Film Directing: For Caan, It'S Not A Festival|author=Mann, Roderick|work=Los Angeles Times|date=Nov 2, 1980|page=q31}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Chapter Two (play)}}
* {{IBDB show|2495|Chapter Two}}
* {{ibdb title|4031|Chapter Two}}

{{Neil Simon}}

[[Category:1977 plays]]
[[Category:Broadway plays]]
[[Category:Plays by Neil Simon]]
[[Category:American plays adapted into films]]
[[Category:Plays set in New York City]]
[[Category:Tony Award–winning plays]]