Danny DeVito is wonderful in this revival of Neil Simon’s Seventies comedy. It’s his West End debut, and he delivers something close to a masterclass: a commanding mix of energetic humour, cute timing and simmering resentment. Thanks to him this is certainly a hot ticket.
Willie Clarke (DeVito) and Al Lewis (Richard Griffiths) enjoyed and later endured 43 years as a vaudeville double act. Their relationship eventually declined to the point where they could no longer work together. They haven’t spoken for over a decade.
A retrospective on TV is the inspiration for a reunion, brokered by Willie’s nephew Ben (Adam Levy). But the tensions persist, and both men seem desperately weary.
DeVito’s Willie is splendidly cantankerous, still smarting from Al’s decision to retire — and affronted by how few opportunities there are for him. It’s a performance full of zest, yet also suggestive of an intriguingly flawed humanity.
Griffiths’s interpretation of the comparatively relaxed Al is strong on well-observed mannerisms but lacks emotional weight. He and DeVito are amusingly mismatched, and the relationship in many ways resembles an unhappy marriage.
There’s a cogent sense of the two men’s individual characters, yet there’s not as much chemistry between them as there should be. You definitely don’t get the feeling that they spent all those years as a professional pair, and in truth there’s more zing in Willie’s interactions with the long-suffering Ben.
The play, first performed in 1972, represents the perils of celebrity (and volatile double acts) in a way that now feels modest in its scope.
The writing abounds with gags, exulting in several different kinds of crankiness, but it’s repetitive and seems like a single interesting sketch extended for two and a half hours.
Thea Sharrock’s production is funny and affectionate, but needs more snap. It doesn’t help that Simon’s characters appear miserable when they’re apart and every bit as wretched when together. Amid moments of sentimentality and nostalgia, the mood is oddly glum. And although the jokes come thick and fast, a lot of them are predictable or insipid.
Read More
It is only fair to say that many of those around me found the experience magical. Watching DeVito on stage is a privilege, without a doubt, but this isn’t comedy at his most deliciously fresh.
The Sunshine Boys runs until July 28 (0844 871 7627)
For the latest shows and events visit our Going Out pages.
MORE ABOUT