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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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Boys shine bright over Highbury
Bringing sunshine: In rehearsal are (left to right) the patient (played by Malcolm Robertshaw), Al Lewis (Wylie Bowkett), Willie Clark (Rob Phillips), Ben Silverman (Dan Payne), Nurse MacKintosh (Becky Higgs) and Eddie (James Cutajar). The Sunshine Boys Highbury Theatre Centre
CASTING is the black art of professional
theatre and film success. Getting the right combination of players can
be a lengthy and frustrating process especially when an actor looks the
part but doesn't play it. Amateur theatre though does not have the luxury
of a large production budget to play with. Often the casting can go
through all sorts of social and company political twists, sometimes
coming down to just who is available that week and free from the school
run. So it's something of a rarity to see that with
the Highbury Players latest venture, The Sunshine Boys, every
member of the cast looks hand-picked, and perfectly chosen for their
roles. It's either they fit the play or the play fits them, but whatever
the case it all works beautifully. Neil Simon's, play is yet another one of his
Polaroid's of New York life. A 40 year long partnership of a
one-time highly successful comedy duo, has fallen out of public favour
and they with each other for the past 11 years. One half of the duo,
Willie Clark (Rob Phillips), barely exists in his crumbling small New
York apartment. Al Lewis his estranged comedy side kick we are informed
is out to pasture, with his own room and bathroom in his daughters
house, out of town in the country. The catalyst is that a TV station is about to put on a review of the history of comedy and they want The ` good ol ‘Sunshine Boys to resurrect their act for the TV special.
Reluctantly and for the money, the boys agree and
so there is an awkward reunion on the cards that provides us with a lot
of laughs, bitter recollections and eventual poignant tragedy. Rob Phillips slips into the role of the
dishevelled Willie Clark as easy as his worn-out slippers, pacing his
New York hovel, making wisecracks in the face of his crumbling life,
career, apartment and demeanour. He was matched by Dan Payne as Willie's nephew
and agent,Ben, who again, with his clean American accent, kept just
enough distance but awkward care from his uncle to be believable. The
second half of the comedy, Al Lewis, is played by Wiley Bowkett. Wiley
returns to the stage after a period of illness but looked strong and
sharp here and fully equal to Willies biting sarcasm.
There was a very realistic scene between
Registered Nurse (Alison Cahill) and bedridden Willie and for once it's
worth mentioning the set which was not trying too hard. The stage at the Highbury is something of a
tunnel and so in other productions that use its full depth, players seem
as far away from the front row as the back row is from the front of the
stage if you follow. With The Sunshine Boys everything was nicely
upfront and that included the glamorous nurse (Becky Higgs).Her entrance
must have set a few pulses of the older guys in audience racing as she
was practically bursting out of her mini skirted outfit. As stated there are often concessions to be made
with an amateur production but here I don't feel I need to make any. The
players, performances, accents, and setting were as good as anything you
will see in any professional production. Jeff Grant |
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