The Last Night of Ballyhoo
79
Play • Fiction
Atlanta, Georgia • 1930s
1996
Adult
14-18 years
NP
The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry is a comedy/drama play set in Atlanta in December 1939. It centers on the Freitag-Levy family, part of Atlanta’s assimilated German-Jewish community, who are preparing for a prestigious event called Ballyhoo. Amidst the celebration, Sunny, a college-aged family member, becomes increasingly aware of anti-Semitism and the growing threat from Hitler’s regime.
Nostalgic
Contemplative
Emotional
Bittersweet
Heartwarming
390 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Alfred Uhry's The Last Night of Ballyhoo receives praise for its engaging dialogue and authentic portrayal of Southern Jewish life in 1939. Critics appreciate the play's humor and historical accuracy, though some find the plot predictable and character development uneven. Overall, it's lauded for its cultural insights and poignant moments, despite minor flaws.
A reader who enjoys exploring themes of identity, family dynamics, and cultural assimilation in a historical context will appreciate Alfred Uhry’s The Last Night of Ballyhoo. Comparable to works like Fannie Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, it caters to those who cherish Southern settings and rich character development.
390 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Last Night of Ballyhoo was written by Alfred Uhry, a playwright known for his works that explore Jewish life in the American South and who also won the Pulitzer Prize for his play Driving Miss Daisy.
The play premiered at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta in 1996, marking it as an important cultural production in the city where the story is set, and later went on to have a successful run on Broadway.
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79
Play • Fiction
Atlanta, Georgia • 1930s
1996
Adult
14-18 years
NP
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