The First Four by Joe Simonelli

THE FIRST FOUR is a collection of four full length plays from prolific American playwright Joe Simonelli. He was dubbed the next Neil Simon by the Asbury Park Press and his plays get performed regularly across the United states and Canada. Showcasing his versatility as a writer, this volume includes two comedies, a thriller and a drama. WAKE ME AT MIDNIGHT is a dark comedy set in a funeral home. Struggling playwright Ted Santi is attending his uncle Joey''s wake in Brooklyn where he...
More Description

THE FIRST FOUR is a collection of four full length plays from prolific American playwright Joe Simonelli. He was dubbed the next Neil Simon by the Asbury Park Press and his plays get performed regularly across the United states and Canada. Showcasing his versatility as a writer, this volume includes two comedies, a thriller and a drama. WAKE ME AT MIDNIGHT is a dark comedy set in a funeral home. Struggling playwright Ted Santi is attending his uncle Joey''s wake in Brooklyn where he owes money to his Aunt, ex-wife, bookie and funeral director. His only salvation is a winning lottery ticket that his practical joking Uncle left hidden somewhere in the funeral home before his demise. The ticket expires at midnight so a frantic romp ensues during the wake to find the ticket. "It''s Guys and dolls without the music" remarked Joe Franklin of Bloomberg Radio. "A black comedy with the emphasis on comedy".... THE HAUNTING OF BILLOP HOUSE is a chilling ghost story set in the Historic Conference House located on Staten Island New York. The house was built by British loyalist Christopher Billop in 1660 and was the sight of an unsuccessful peace conference in September 1775 which was attended by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Edward Rutledge and General Howe representing the British. Simonelli''s play is set in present day where thriller novelist and playwright Larry Landers comes to visit his sister in law, who is the current caretaker of the house. Joined by his niece and her boyfriend the four of them learn the dark secrets of the house through past life regression therapy. "A riveting thriller, not to be missed." remarked Joe Franklin of Bloomberg Radio.....''OLD RINGERS" - In this semi sequel to Mr Simonelli''s flagship comedy. ''Men Are Dogs,'' Old Ringers involves four senior women who try to fight the shrinking economy and their shrinking pocketbooks by opening up a home phone sex service after receiving an unsolicited obscene phone call! This is an adult bawdy comedy and although two characters are reprised from ''Men Are Dogs'' the play stands on it''s own and a familiarity with the earlier play is certainly not a pre- requisite! "Go see Old Ringers to experience the lighter side of the economic downturn as told by comic playwright Joe Simonelli. Balancing obscenity with drier subjects like social security checks, keeps the play believable but doesn''t deract from it''s raucous, crowd pleasing comedy!"Monterey County Weekley....WITH THIS RING - A play written specifically with Valentine''s Day in mind. "With This Ring" is the story of a wedding band that travels over five generations and the visceral effect it has on those couples who come to possess it. The ring is first presented to an Irish immigrant by her husband at the turn of the nineteenth century. It then skips a generation in the next scene in the 1960''s as the couple''s grandson inherits it, has it inscribed and presents it to his new wife. In Scene Three the ring becomes a point of contention in the mid -eighties between an estranged couple contemplating a divorce. It comes full circle in the last scene where it finds its way to an engaged couple in 2007 and a special visitor who is coming from out of state for their wedding.About Joe Simonelli - Mr. Simonelli''s plays have been delighting audiences since the late nineties! His titles range from dark comedies, light musicals, genre (ghost stories and Christmas plays) to dramas. He has been writing and performing in plays on the Jersey Shore, Staten island and Manhatan since 1998.His plays get performed around the U.S. and Canada on a regular basis. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and exposed to the New York theatre scene at an early age where he witnessed live theatrical performances from the likes of Danny Kaye in ''Two by Two'' and Katherine Hepburn in ''Coco.'' Joe is also a musician, (following in the steps of his father ) and is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America. He currently resides in Staten Island, New York.