Simon defends use of death in his plays

PORTLAND, Ore., May 17 (UPI) -- U.S. playwright Neil Simon says most of his stage works have aspects of death and aging since they are prevalent aspects of everyone's life.

The (Portland) Oregonian reported Saturday that the playwright behind such works as "Biloxi Blues" and "The Sunshine Boys" recognized how he has featured an awareness of death and aging in his works throughout his writing career.

"That's because you can't avoid it. It's going to happen to all of us," he said of such dreary topics. "When you're a kid you kind of laugh at it because it's nowhere near you, then suddenly you see your parents getting older and older and wonder what you're going to do with them, and then your brother -- because my brother is gone now. It's always there, so why not talk about it?"

Simon also told The Oregonian the humor in his plays is occasionally based in pain, but added that pain usually has cathartic properties.

"There's a great deal of pain in humor," he told the newspaper. "I think people want to hear it. Just laughing makes them feel better."