Jake's Women: Neil Simon at his best

Neil Simon’s "Jake’s Women" was one of the most touching plays I’ve ever seen. Jake’s whole life is portrayed through the characters in his mind. He seemed to be a ‘structured control freak’. ‘Structured’, because his imaginary creations were perfectly coordinated and a ‘control freak’ because he imagines what he wants to imagine. He doesn’t pay much attention to whether he’s right or wrong.

Jake can be seen as a man obsessed with his work. He finds the solace he needs through writing. When he’s not working, he’s a nervous wreck. He is completely dependent on his imaginations of his dead wife, his daughter, his psychiatrist, and his sister.

His relationship with his wife dwindles as a result of his ‘unstoppable thoughts’. They both love each other even after having extra-marital relationships, which I think, is rare. Maggie, Jack’s wife, believes that separation is key to the survival of their relationship. Jack objects to this but has no choice. Ultimately, the time they spend away from each other tends to placate the situation.

The humor in the play is everywhere. The harmony of the characters, music, wit and emotions make an effective impact on the audience. It reaches out to the audience and makes them feel part of the play.

Thus, out of all the plays I’ve seen on campus, "Jake’s Women" is certainly the winner. The cast acted brilliantly and the play succeeded in involving the audience. It is a superb romantic comedy worth watching again.