The Sunshine Boys

Synopsis

When Vaudevilles headliners Willie Clark and Al Lewis split up acrimoniously after 30 years, it was the end of a comedy era for 'The Sunshine Boys'. Now 12 years later C.B.S. are presenting a tribute to 'Vaudeville' and require the 'boys' to be reunited for one last performance of the legendary 'Doctors Sketch'. Neither is willing to co-operate and it is left to Willie's long suffering nephew to seek a compromise...with hilarious results.

Our Review:

30 April 2007

Director Maggie Norris refers to The Sunshine Boys as “a serious comedy” and its seriousness is beyond dispute. Despite Neil Simon’s neatly crafted gags and the wit and irony of the ending that is welcomed with an anticipatory gust of laughter, much of the play casts a beady eye on the frailties of old age.

Willie Clark sits in his pyjamas in his much-reduced apartment watching soap operas on television when he is not accidentally disconnecting it and periodically defeated by the challenge of working the lock on his door. When his nephew/agent Ben arrives for his weekly visit - Willie’s window on the world – he is subjected to complaints and insults by his uncle. There is plenty of good grumpy old man humour, but it can be pretty uncomfortable watching Willie rage against the dying of the light, or at least the memory.

Officially, he's still active in showbusiness, but the only work Ben can offer is a television retrospective on vaudeville teamin...

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