“The Sunshine Boys” light up the stage

Jose Ruiz, Enjoy!

BURBANK -- Having completed a seven-month national tour, “The Sunshine

Boys” are back in sunny California and they’ve settled at The Falcon

Theatre near beautiful downtown Burbank.

Neil Simon’s classic comedy tells about Lewis and Clark, a

vaudevillian comedy team that broke up after 43 years of wowing them, and

is being asked to reunite for one more show. The comeback road takes a

whole new route in the veteran hands of Frank Gorshin and Dick Van

Patten.

Willie Clark, played by Gorshin, is a crotchety old man whocomplains

about everything and tends to make huge mountains outof tiny anthills.

His feelings are hurt because his partner, Al Lewis, (Dick Van Patten)

decided to retire more than 12 years ago, leaving himwithout an act.

Now Willie is sickly and lonely but still dreams of returning to the

stage. Were it not for his nephew, Ben, (James Van Patten), who visits

him weekly, he would have nobody in life. Al lives with his daughter and

seems content with the status quo with no plans to return to show

business.

However, CBS is planning a tribute to vaudeville, and Ben, atalent

agent, has negotiated a sketch for the team, providing they do their

classic doctor’s visit routine. The trick is to reunite the two, who

haven’t spoken in years and don’t want to ever work together again.

After much cajoling, they agree reluctantly, but rehearsals are a

disaster, and even sexy Lola Lesheim, playing a nurse who jiggles her way

through the fabled comeback sketch, fails to get it off the ground. Lewis

walks out and Clark suffers a heart attack.

Willie is especially adamant, and his recalcitrant manner sets up

situations that showcase Gorshin’s energetic talents. Dick Van Patten,

in a more low-key role, plays his character with much less intensity.

When Gorshin bristles, red faced with veins popping, Van Patten shrugs

and grimaces, much like in the old “Eight is Enough” series on TV.

James Van Patten (Dick’s son) on the other hand, often overworks his

heart murmurs and exasperated rants, leaving an opening for Gorshin to

walk off with the show. Gorshin doesn’t walk -- he runs away with it, and

in the process makes the audience roar with laughter at his antics and

expressions.

Leslie Thurston has great lines playing Willie’s nurse after the heart

attack. The artful plot contrivance by Neil Simon leaves no doubt that

“The Sunshine Boys” will be together again, but not exactly the way

either one had planned.

The “Boys” light up the stage, and the opening-night audience, heavily

sprinkled with many top TV stars, like Marion Ross, Scott Baio, Hector

Elizondo, Garry Marshall and others rewarded them with a rousing ovation.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys,” starring Dick Van Patten and

Frank Gorshin. Directed by Curt Wollan.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday through

June 2.

WHERE: The Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank.

TICKETS: $25 to $30 with discounts for students and senior citizens.

PHONE: 955-8101.