“California Suite” at First Avenue Playhouse

Here is Neil Simon at his most humane, passionate best. His play is a humorous confection of 4 vignettes that take place in the same California hotel suite; Visitor from New York, Visitor from Philadelphia, Visitor from London and Visitors from Chicago. From New York, a magazine writer and her ex-husband jockey for their daughter’s affection as they try to decide where she should spend he next six months. From Philadelphia, a husband has to get a drunken woman out of his bed before his wife comes back, when it wasn’t even his idea in the first place. From Chicago, twocouples who started a vacation as good friends, are now miserable and at each other’s throats. From London, an Oscar losing actress returns to the suite with confidence shattered only to find an unsympathetic husband rather than the solace she craves.