Down to London last week to see the matinee performance of the well reviewed staging of The Sunshine Boys at the Savoy Theatre. Couldn’t help but recall the wonderful George Burns and Walter Matthau film adaptation of the Neil Simon play so intrigued to find out how well it stood up to the tests of time and taste. (Across the board excellent reviews had of course given me more than a gentle hint).
In this revival Danny DeVito plays Willie Clark and Richard Griffiths is cast as Al Lewis.
They are an old vaudeville double-act who worked together for 43 years, broke up in animosity, and are grouchily reunited 11 years later for a TV special. DeVito has been rightly lauded for his performance, achingly funny when almost exploding with fury about virtually anything, extremely poignant after suffering the heart attack that finally convinces him that he needs to retire from the business which consumes him. Griffiths’ performance is more reserved but subtly funny, although the accent does appear to slip occasionally throughout the performance.
The supporting cast is also well played (although you have to feel for the man whose only appearance sees him “run about a bit and panic” when the duo run through a dress rehearsal when they attempt to create one of their famous routines for a TV comeback).
It is definitely DeVito’s show to steal, not least because he is virtually never off the stage, an astounding West End debut. Neil Simon extracts belly laughs galore out of both the situation and the bickering couple’s relationship, but he also makes it clear that growing old is no joke. The play is still very funny and its themes still resonate today as clearly as they did when it was first written.
P.S Post theatre meal at Boyd’s Brasserie was excellent – food, service and ambiance all top notch. Recommended!