The late great Neil Simon’s much-praised (and frequently-filmed) 1972 play is here directed by Peter Goers in his second production for Adelaide Repertory Theatre/’The Rep’ after his seriously successful The Man Who Came To Dinner.
Simon’s play is a rather darker and snarkier affair than some of his slightly sweeter works, with former vaudevillian star Willie Clark (Robert Cusenza) introduced as he delights in being difficult at home in his grungy hotel room. Visited by his long-suffering nephew/agent Ben Silverman (Tom Tassone), Willie is offered the chance to reunite with Al Lewis, his former partner in the beloved ‘The Sunshine Boys’ double-act, for a one-night-only TV special.
And, of course, he quickly launches into a very biting (and very Neil-Simon-esque) description of how much he hates the guy, even though he’s obviously hurt at being supposedly abandoned years before.
When Ben somehow convinces the also-fragile Al (Robin “Smacka” Schmelzkopf) to come to New York for a rehearsal, the stage is set for some wonderfully harsh two-hander comedy before the interval. And, when we return, the TV special is being rehearsed (with Goers having an amusing cameo), and the duo grow ever closer to imploding.
With fine work from Cusenza (whose Willie is onstage for the whole show) and Schmelzkopf (another Adelaide theatre legend), this features strong support from Tassone, Penni Hamilton-Smith, and Lauren Thiel, whose ‘TV Nurse’ is a little un-PC, but very funny anyway.
And yes, let’s all hope that Goers continues to bring us more sunshine.
Performance dates and times
Wednesday 16 September, 7:30pm
Thursday 17 September, 7:30pm
Friday 18 September, 7:30pm
Saturday 19 September, 2pm and 7:30pm
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