By Reena Dutt
Arizona Daily Wildcat
January 27, 1998

Simon's 'Sunshine' not bright enough in Tucson

Photo courtesy of The Actors' Theatre Arizona Daily Wildcat Herb Smithline (l) and John Dadante (r) star in The Actors' Theatre's production of "The Sunshine Boys," by Neil Simon.

"Potential" is the key word for "The Sunshine Boys," a new production by The Actors' Theatre. Although Neil Simon's script is well written (after all, it is Neil Simon), the actors do only a marginally good job performing it, leaving the audience to feel as if the potential of the material was only partially realized.

"The Sunshine Boys" is the story of an old Vaudville act that split up because one of the two members, Al Lewis (played by Herb Smithline), decided to retire over twenty years ago without warning his partner at the time, Willie Clark (played by John Dudan te). In the present day, both elderly gentlemen live with family - Clark with his nephew, and Lewis with his daughter. When CBS offers them $10,000 to perform one of their most famous acts again, resentments from the past resurface. This is not as bad as it sounds, since those same issues bring their present day families closer together in a strange way.

The first half of the performance is unreasonably slow. The actors seem to be reading lines instead of performing them, and punch lines are thrown into the audience as though the words hold no comedic value. For example, Willie is a native New Yorker with a thick accent. Although the character's mannerisms are slow and the accent fairly believable, Dudante recites his lines at the same pace throughout the whole first half. There is also a lack in emotion during the first act, as every line seems to hold t he same amount of importance during dialogue. The actors do not seem to know the words to stress or the importance of what they are discussing at all. At times, though, an effort is visible; all I can say is I hope it was just a bad night.

Happily, the second half is much better than its predecessor. New characters are brought onto the stage, including one played by the University of Arizona's very own Michelle Baynen. Although Baynen is thrown into the stereotypical role of a sexy, dumb bl onde, she pulls her character off like another Marilyn Monroe. Though this may not be excessively challenging, compliments go out to her for putting up with "playing nurse" during the scene the old Vaudeville act performs for CBS.

The pace also quickens in the second half of the performance. The rhythm of the dialogue is faster and more natural, versus the recitation from the first half. The play still seems to drag on, however, and there are still many segments that can use much i mprovement.

The set design by Bruce Wilde is a definite asset. The set is well-built and simple, and just enough to make the New York studio apartment appear believable. Everything remains just how it should be. There is also a well-deserved thank you note in the bac k of the program to Adela Radoff for "aging John's hair." Since Dadante's character is a much older man than what the actor seems, his hair is almost completely grayed for the performance, something that I would have thought real had I not read the progra m.

"The Sunshine Boys" is presented by The Actors' Theatre, and continues through Feb. 15. Located at 7000 E. Tanque Verde, this hidden theater re-establishes the Old Gaslight, in order to allow new and recognizable faces to practice their art on stage. For further information, call 751-6419.