The Sunshine Boys
Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys was first presented on Broadway in December, 1972. Since that time, it has been presented with numerous actors on stages as well as television. The production, now playing at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in West Los Angeles, has got to be rated as one of the best. It offers uproarious and entertaining theatre with a cast that is, undeniably, superb under the excellent direction of Jeffrey Hayden.
Al Lewis (Allan Miller) and Willie Clark (Hal Linden) were a successful vaudeville team known as The Sunshine Boys back in the “old” days of vaudeville. But outside of the theater, their personalities clashed and they were far from friends. When Lewis decided to retire, Willie lost his partner as well as the success he had known. He hadn’t seen or spoken to Al Lewis for eleven years nor did he care to. When his devoted nephew and agent, Ben Silverman (Eddie Kehler), finally gets him an offer from CBS to do a show about the history of comedy, he gets excited until he finds out that CBS wants an act by The Sunshine Boys. This means that he has to face his former partner. Being the old curmudgeon that he is, he refuses until Ben finally convinces him, at least, to try to get along in order to do the show. When Lewis and Clark get together to rehearse in Clark’s apartment, their old animosity rises, and it seems that the reunion is doomed. There is so much humor in Simon’s script, it’s a laugh-a-minute. But finally Lewis gives up and leaves.
In the second act however, they do arrive at CBS to rehearse their “famous doctor” skit, which is played out just like it was done in the old days. But these two men just can’t get along and, once again, their tempers flare up, and once again Al walks out. This time, when Willie gets overly excited, he has a heart attack. Will these two men, who worked together for so many years ever realize their true feelings for one another? It seems that they will finally end up closer than they ever expected.
Allan Miller and Hal Linden play off one another to perfection. “Eddie Kehler is wonderful as Willie’s nephew. Jackee Harry is Willie’s amusing nurse. The rest of the cast includes Timothy Halpin, James Rejent, Alison Lees-Taylor and Al Bernstein. This is one of the funniest shows you will ever see. Highly recommended.
Odyssey Theatre Ensemble
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
W. Los Angeles, CA
Continues through June 1, 2008
For reservations, call (310) 477-2055, online at www.odysseytheatre.com