America loves Neil Simon. At least for the past 40 years the entertainment industry has relied heavily on his Broadway plays, lyrics and scripts for favorite musicals and screenplays for hit movies.

Somewhere along the line, though, his popularity dwindled somewhat, with several plays that seemed darker, more bitter than sweet; and his popular one-line-zinger writing style eventually seemed to get a bit old and overused. However, he still is one of the most often produced playwrights across the country, as well as internationally.

One of Simon’s best loved, though now dated, movie scripts made Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason famously funny in the 1977 hit, “The Goodbye Girl.” The movie won five awards among the 1978 Oscars and Golden Globes. But it had almost been forgotten when Marvin Hamlisch and David Zippel teamed with Simon to do the Broadway musical version in 1993, starring Martin Short and Bernadette Peters. Although it only played 188 performances, it was nominated for all five of that year’s major Tony awards: Best Musical, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Direction, Best Choreography.

But now Chicago can enjoy it again and with real style. Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace brings us a brand new production of “The Goodbye Girl” musical, and it is well worth the time and money to see this attractive show. Directed by successful New York director Gary Griffin and with a sterling cast of Chicago favorites, the production manages to rise above its somewhat dated style and story to renew our appreciation of Simon’s sardonic wit. It even overcomes the sitcom predictability of the script.

The plot revolves around Paula, a struggling New York dancer, who finds herself abandoned, yet again, by her actor boyfriend, who has sublet their apartment to another actor, Elliot, without bothering to tell either about the other. Realizing she must provide for her 12-year-old daughter, Lucy, she strikes a deal whereby all will share the apartment; but things rapidly develop into one of those hilariously complex situations, as only Simon can create. Then, of course, they fall in love, which alarms Lucy, who fears that Elliot, too, will walk out on them as yet another example of “The Goodbye Girl” syndrome.

Thankfully, Griffin seems to have chosen to emulate the characters of the original movie, rather than the Broadway cast. (I never felt that Martin Short and Bernadette Peters were right for the roles anyway.) At Drury Lane, the magnificent Susan Moniz is Paula; and though she makes the role all her very own, she still allows those of us who loved Marsha Mason to feel nostalgic. Moniz, as always, is utterly charming, and above all, completely genuine, believable.

The ever popular Bernie Yvon is a perfect replacement for the film’s Richard Dreyfuss. He is the consummate comedy actor; and thank heavens he is. Because his opening-night laryngitis forced him to rely almost entirely on that comedic talent; although let me hurriedly add that he handled the singing heroically; and were we not aware of the need for a singer in the role, one could very well have accepted his hoarse performance as Elliot to be the intended interpretation. Here again, his complete honesty not only matched that of Moniz, but made the sometimes trite script endearingly acceptable.

The same quality permeates the performance of young Theresa Moen of Lisle as Paula’s daughter, Lucy. Moen exhibited a charmingly wise and savvy interpretation for the complex character.

The balance of the cast and the marvelous ensemble (who handle the clever Fosse-like choreography of Tommy Mader with great style) are super; although they have to struggle a bit with the impressive, but somewhat cumbersome scenery by Brian Sydney Bembridge.

This is not a great musical. But this production does everything necessary to make it warm and genuine, while making Simon’s formula repartee sound fresh and new. After all, he is still one of our great American playwrights. This production demonstrates that splendidly. Go!

The Jeff Award-nominated show continues through March 2, with eight performances a week. For tickets and details on show times and optional lunch and dinner packages, call the box office at (630) 530-0111 or TicketMaster at (312) 599-1212 or visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.drurylaneoakbrook.com. A special dinner theater package is offered on Valentine’s Day, priced at $100 per couple. Drury Lane Theatre is at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace.

Reviewer Bill Beard was a professor of theater for more than 25 years. He has directed 150 productions in the United States and abroad, and served on the National Board of Directors of the American Theatre Association. He has been a theater critic for more than 30 years. His former students include Carol Burnett (while a student at UCLA), Geena Davis and John Shea.