THEATRE 
REVIEWS
The Sunshine Boys
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Leeds
ENGLAND
Poetic justice
We start not knowing if we are in a cinema or a theatre, but then it sorts itself out and a play begins. When you get old the mind eases off and the obvious is no longer achievable as it was in time past. Here we have one half of a comedy duo living on his own with only himself to please, visited weekly on a Wednesday by his theatre agent nephew. Not much of a start, but bear with it and all will be revealed.
Written in 1972 this comment on old age by Neil Simon is still as relevant today as it was when it was first performed. The one liners are funny and cutting and draw spontaneous applause from a mixed age audience who see either themselves in the situations or someone very near to them.
Malcolm Rennie and Lou Hirsch in action
Willie Clark, superbly observed and portrayed by Malcolm Rennie showing us that theatre people are always performing, is visited by his nephew Ben Silverman, nicely played by Dylan Charles. He relays the suggestion that Willie gets together with his long time partner for a television spectacular about comedy past. This gives Lou Hirsch a chance to bring a great straight man approach to the other half of the comedy team, Al Lewis. The play is set when the sun has gone in and the end is in sight and gives Neil Simon a chance to give the audience fast slick dialogue in this masterful script. A nice little cameo is given by Melanie La Barrie as Willie's live in nurse. All this is ably directed by Maggie Norris against a set designed by Katrina Lindsay.
In all it was a thought provoking evening for the appreciative audience, who went home in a reflective mood focused on the effects of old age in its many guises. Old age comes to everyone and affects them in many different ways. It is the luck of the draw. A great evening of theatre verging on a feel of true repertory, with poetic justice dealt out in the end by the hand of fate. This is a grey comedy. © BA
“The Sunshine Boys” is in Leeds on the 20th April until the 19th May, 2007. Council car parking charge £1 from 5.30pm until 10pm. This is now a No Smoking theatre.
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