Theater Review—

Great Performances, But Is The Timing Right?

By Julie Stern

RIDGEFIELD —It’s hard to imagine any actors doing a better job of portraying “The Sunshine Boys” than Mark Snyder and Larry Greeley. Under the capable direction of Sherry Asch, these two are bringing to life at Ridgefield Theater Barn Neil Simon’s pair of superannuated ex-vaudevillians, Al Lewis and Willie Clark.

For 35 years Al and Willie were a wildly popular comedy team on stage and television, but in private they were perpetually quarrelsome enemies. The premise of the play, which in production in Ridgefield until April 19, is that 11 years after their retirement, Willie’s nephew, Ben, is trying to arrange one last gig for them: a CBS-TV special on the history of comedy in which they are to do a reprise of their most popular skit, “The Doctor.”

This is made difficult by their continuous feuding, and by Willie’s deeply held resentment over Al’s unilateral decision to abandon the act and retire. Al went on to a career in the stock market, and when his wife died, moved in with his daughter in New Jersey. Willie has remained in a Broadway hotel apartment, sitting in his pajamas, and waiting for casting calls that never come.

As Willie’s only living relative, Kyle Pinto is valiantly devoted to his uncle, visiting him every Wednesday with care packages of Variety and forbidden cigars. Ben acts as Willie’s “agent,” helping him through the confusions of old age — reminding him how to work the television and door latch — and encouraging him to make peace with his old partner, while Willie fends him off with a non-stop array of one-liners.

The play also provides small roles for three people who normally work behind the scenes: Myles Gansfried, the Theater Barn’s inspired set designer, appears as a straight man in the culminating attempt to perform “The Doctor”; Jennifer Gantwerker, an aspiring actress and hard working electrician, dresser and press intern, plays a harried techie trying to keep the old boys in line as they rehearse their piece; and Pat Halbert, longtime publicist for the Theater Barn, does a turn as a formidably insensitive nurse, in contrast to Melissa Power’s burlesque version in the skit.

This being said, there is some question about why all this talent and effort is being put into a show that may have passed its sell-by date. The Sunshine Boys won a Tony Award for Best Play 35 years ago, back when people watched television variety shows. A loving recreation of burlesque, combined with realistic intimations of senility, while poignant, is not too likely to send audiences home snapping their fingers and saying “That’s entertainment!”

(Performances continue Friday and Saturday evenings until April 19, including matinees on Sundays, April 6 and 13.

Tickets are $22 for adults, and $18 for students and seniors. Call 203-431-9850 for reservations, directions to the theater, or other information.)