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The play is essentially a two-hander (with the female roles often played by three individual actors, although some productions use just one woman doubling (trebling?) all three roles). Neil Simon has written some excellent monologues along the way. Here's an example from Elaine.
Elaine: You hypocrite! You soul-searching, finger-smelling, hypocritical son of a bitch! Who are you to tell anybody how to go through life? What would you have done if I came in here all fluttery and blushing and "Ooh, Mr. Cashman, don’t put your hand there, I’m a married woman"? Were you going to tell me how much you respect me, admire me and, at the moment of truth, even love me? You know damn well tomorrow you’d be back behind that counter opening clams and praying to Christ I’d never come back in your restaurant. And you know something? That’s the way it should be. Forgive me for the terrible, sinful thing I’m about to say but I happen to like the pure physical act of making love. It warms me, it stimulates me and it makes me feel like a woman — but that’s another ugly story! That’s what I came up here for and that’s what you were expecting. But don’t give me, "When I was nine years old my mother ran off with the butcher and I’ve been looking for someone to love me ever since..." I don’t know your problems and I don’t care. Keep your savoury swordfish succotash stories to yourself. No one really cares about anything or anyone in this world except himself, and there’s only one way to get through with your sanity if you can’t taste it, touch it or smell it, forget it! If you want a copy of that speech, send fifty cents and self-addressed envelope — It’s getting late... and I have to feed the lion at six. Don’t waste your time. We’re incompatible. Together, Barney, we blew one of the very few free afternoons we have allotted to us in this life. But I’m not putting the blame on you. It serves me right. If I had a craving for corned beef and cabbage I’d be in some big Irishman’s apartment right now having the time of my life... C’est la vie! [At the door] Good luck, Barney, in your quest for the Impossible Dream. [Opens the door] Oh, please God, let there be a cigarette machine in the lobby.
Hit No
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