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Sun shines on veteran actors
(by Herb Hammer - August 03, 2011)
THEATER, BY HERB HAMMER
Sun shines on veteran actors
We are in Willie Clark's rundown, one-room apartment somewhere in the heart of New York City. Willie is an old-time vaudevillian still looking for work. Eleven years ago, his partner of 43 years, Al Lewis, walked out on him, giving up show business forever. The two haven't spoken since.
Much of Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys," now playing at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre's River Street Playhouse, depends on Willie's resentment.
But this is not the only thing that makes "The Sunshine Boys" a treat. The humor, the hilarity and the loveliness of this dated play belong to Frank Mularo, as Willie Clark, and Don Edelman, who plays Al Lewis.
Mr. Edelman and Mr. Mularo have been closely tied to Chagrin Valley Little Theatre for more decades than one cares to count. Both as actors and as directors, the two have played a major role in the success of the theater.
Whether it's just nostalgia or the bare fact that these two are the finest performers ever to grace the CVLT stage, this play is the perfect setup.
Pardon me if I gush, but Mr. Mularo and Mr. Edelman, with enormous help from veteran actor Steve Kay, do more for the play than the play does for the audience.
Steve Kay plays Ben, Willie Clark's nephew and only living relative. Every Wednesday, Ben brings Willie his meager supply of groceries, the weekly show business newspaper, Variety, along with a few cigars. Willie spends most of his time demanding Ben to find him a job, a commercial at the very least. Ben is an agent but has yet to find work for Willie.
The key to today's visit is the offer Ben brings from CBS, which wants Lewis and Clark together again for one show just to do their once-famous "Doctor's Sketch." Ben begs. Willie says no. But we know, in anger or not, the two will get together with their long-running hatred for each other intact.
All the gags and hilarious infighting are played out with perfect timing by our illustrious pair. In the hands of others, Willie Clark and Al Lewis could not reach the heights brought by Mr. Edelman and Mr. Mularo.
It's easy to see what Neil Simon had in mind back in 1972 when "The Sunshine Boys" first played Broadway. Growing old and leaving the best of life behind can be handled with dread and anger -- that's Willie -- or with sure footedness and moving forward -- that's Al. Throw in a hundred laughs or so, and Mr. Simon had a hit play and a hit movie.
We want something good to come out of this horrific anger. How could the playwright leave us with the battle still raging? Well, if you've never seen "The Sunshine Boys," you'll find out how the genius of Mr. Simon brings the play to a close.
Director Kate Conti does excellent work, keeping her actors tightly wound. Most directors will tell you, however, that directing is 90 percent casting. Once Miss Conti had this cast in place the rest was easy.
One of the funniest moments is a scene where Willie and Al finally get into rehearsal for the "Doctor's Sketch." Here you can see why the fictional sketch held up for all those years.
"The Sunshine Boys" will play River Street for two more weeks. It is not to be missed. Call 440-247-8955 for tickets.
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