The Sunshine Boys

Eric Peterson & Kenneth Welsh in The Sunshine Boys. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Two Canadian theatre greats face-off in Soulpepper’s The Sunshine Boys, Neil Simon’s 1972 comedy about a pair of feuding vaudeville veterans, on stage now at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Inspired by real-life comedy duos Smith and Dale, and Gallagher and Shean, the play tells the story of aging vaudeville stars Al Lewis and Willie Clark, a popular vaudeville team known as “Lewis and Clark” or “The Sunshine Boys.”

The opening scene finds Willie (played by the ever amusing Eric Peterson), holed up in his faded New York City hotel room/apartment, grumpy and forgetful in a robe and slippers, while his faithful nephew and agent Ben (a solid Jordan Pettle) does his best to satisfy a laundry list of delusional demands. When presented with the chance to reunite—after more than 10 years of chilly silence—with his old parter Al (a wonderfully understated Kenneth Welsh) for a CBS variety show, Willie refuses to let go of old hurts and the elderly actors clash in a hilarious and tender portrait of deep-rooted partnership.

Patrick Clark’s spot-on set and costume design and Crieghton Doane’s zany music and sound design set the tone for this joyous production, which features outstanding performances by a talented cast, including Sarah Wilson as an over-the-top sexy nurse in the duo’s famous doctor’s office routine. Don’t miss the chance to catch Peterson and Welsh in action. Soulpepper knows a winning act when they see one.

The Sunshine Boys runs until September 22 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Visit soulpepper.ca for more information and to buy tickets.

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