Theatre Review

2nd Story's 'Sunshine Boys' provides the laughs

By Don Fowler
Posted 8/17/16

Director Ed Shea feels that the world - or at least his audiences - needs more laughter. This summer and on into the fall season, he is providing them at his Warren theatre. Neil Simon's dated, corny but hilarious The"

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Theatre Review

2nd Story's 'Sunshine Boys' provides the laughs

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Director Ed Shea feels that the world – or at least his audiences – needs more laughter. This summer and on into the fall season, he is providing them at his Warren theatre.

Neil Simon’s dated, corny but hilarious “The Sunshine Boys” provides enough laughs to get us through the end of the month, thanks to great performances by Bob Colonna as Willie and F. William Oakes as Ben.

Colonna is a Rhode Island treasure, son of Jerry Colonna, the comedian who toured the world as Bob Hope’s second banana, passing on his genes and talents to Bob.

Bob Colonna is one of the few actors I know who can blow and even forget a line and turn it into a plus, if given the right character to play. Willie is the perfect fit for him, an aging vaudeville comedian who spent his life opposite Al (Oakes) doing corny sketches.

Willie thinks Al is a great actor but he still hates him as a person. How could you like anyone who pokes his finger in his chest and spits at him during their act.

Willie still has hopes of landing a movie role or doing a commercial, if only he could remember the name of the product.

His nephew and agent, Ben (Nicholas Thibeault) lands him a spot on CBS’s “History of Comedy” special, but he refuses to do it if it means reuniting with his partner, whom he hasn’t spoken to in nearly a dozen years.

Ben finally brings them together, and the fireworks begin. The rehearsals are a disaster, and the end result is a heart attack for Willie.

Al comes to visit Willie in the final scene, and you know that reconciliation is inevitable, but not before a couple of parting blows and a surprise twist that sends them into the sunset.

“The Sunshine Boys” is pure nostalgic corn. The recreation of their famous “Doctor” skit is so bad that it will have you in stitches.

Colonna and Oakes work beautifully together, with some good support from Thibeault and brief appearances from Lauren Ustaszewski as the actress in the skit and Susan Bowen Powers as Willie’s nurse. The play is done in the round and moves swiftly along for an hour and 45 minutes, with a brief intermission.

“The Sunshine Boys” closes out 2nd Story’s summer season, running through August 28. Tickets are $30. Call 247-4200 for reservations.

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