BROOKFIELD — The current production by Brookfield Theater of the Arts of Neil Simon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Lost in Yonkers is ever more poignant in the aftermath of the master playwright’s recent passing. Yonkers is a sweet, tender, and funny play about commitment and sacrifice within families, despite inherent flaws and quirks.

By charmingly setting the stage with a preshow radio-styled performance filled with beautiful vocals and hokey humor featuring Hector Diaz, Alyssa Grey, Will Mahan, Jeffrey Rossman, Isabelle Tiska, and Tarah Vega, the main event is heralded.

Eddie Kurnitz (played by David Cheris), a recent widower with two young teenaged sons — Arty (Dylan Fischetto) and Jay (Nico Apicella) — is up against substantial debt and relentless grief. With no one else to turn to, he loads his two sons, in their best clothes, into the car and drives them to his childhood home, an apartment still inhabited by his hard-bitten and cantankerous elderly mother (Pat Covino) and his daffy and delightful younger sister, Bella (Rigby Wilkins).

Begging is not beneath Eddie. He faces his curmudgeon of a mom, while beseeching his two boys to behave, trying to secure them a temporary home with Grandma so he can take to the road to make money in sales.

Grandma stubbornly acquiesces, as an overjoyed Bella seals the deal. The boys reluctantly fall in line, to support their dad.

The boys jest and taunt each other as they deal with their miserable grandmother, who blames her horrific childhood in Germany for her outlook on life. Her struggle has informed her identity. She puts them to work in the Kurnitz shop below the apartment, which provides more reasons for her belittling and punishing treatment of them.

The two teenagers become confidants of Bella’s. She spends considerable time sharing her tales with them. They in turn try to sort her reality from fantasy while conveying an affectionate interest.

Eddie’s gangster brother, Larry (Michael Reilly), comes to stay for a few days, further crowding the apartment with his larger than life personality and career. Making an appearance at a family dinner, Aunt Gert (Lynn Nissenbaum) puts her anxiety-induced breathing disorder on full display.

Neil Simon told the story of his life through many of his plays. Lost in Yonkers is one of his best. The characters resonate completely through dialogue filled with wit and sincerity. The entire cast does this beautiful work justice.

The two boys central to the play are wonderfully rendered by Nico Apicella and Dylan Fischetto, with the latter imparting the impish nature of his character flawlessly.

Mr Cheris beautifully presents the heartbreak and fragility of his character, who struggles in every way.

Ms Covino’s Grandma is relentlessly demanding and unforgiving, and yet she allows a peek into her character’s gentler qualities.

The quintessential tough guy is given excellent treatment by Mr Reilly; his Larry is pitch perfect.

As the sporadically asthmatic Gert, Lynn Nissenbaum is fun to watch.

Rigby Wilkins gives a lovely performance as the heartbeat of this piece. She is energetic and genuine as her character teaches life lessons on love and connection. She is convincing and very moving in this role.

The entire theater has been transformed to represent 1940s Yonkers. Set Designer Andy Okell’s work perfectly represents the time and place as well as the struggles and connections of the family it harbors.

Lost in Yonkers is a beautiful play being given superb treatment under the direction of Dana O’Neal. Do not miss this heartwarming work of an American treasure performed by superb cast.

The 2019 season opener at Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, performances of Lost in Yonkers continue weekends to March 16. Shows are Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, and Sunday, March 10, at 2 pm.

Tickets are $25 adults, $20 students and senior citizens, and can be ordered by calling 203-775-0023 or visiting brookfieldtheatre.org.