Jenn Thompson, the director, does it by staging "Lost in Yonkers" as though it were a straight-down-the-center family drama.

WSJ: Lost in Yonkers | Ah, Wilderness | Newsies | Rediscovering Neil Simon | Theater Review by Terry Teachout

Not only is postmodern comedy radically different in tone, but it makes no sense for most of the characters in a serious comedy like "Lost in Yonkers" to be frothing at the mouth with one-liners.

WSJ: Putting the Punch in Punch-Line | Neil Simon | Laughter on the 23rd Floor | Mad Cow Theatre | Review by Terry Teachout

The plot of "Lost in Yonkers" sounds like the premise for a second-rate sitcom: Eddie (Dominic Comperatore) gets into hot water with a loan shark, stows his two boys (Matthew Gumley and Russell Posner) with his gargoyle-like mother (Cynthia Harris) and goofy sister (Finnerty Steeves) and goes on the lam.

WSJ: Lost in Yonkers | Ah, Wilderness | Newsies | Rediscovering Neil Simon | Theater Review by Terry Teachout