FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2006 9:00 a.m.   Woodstock Musical Theatre Company Contact: Ginny Richardson, GR-PR Phone: 630-789-8555 Email: grichardson@gr-pr.com   Web: www.WoodstockTheatre.com

 

Woodstock Musical Theatre Company presents The Sunshine Boys   WHO:             Woodstock Musical Theatre Company (WMTC)   WHAT:           presents the side-splitting Neil Simon comedy, The Sunshine Boys,   WHEN:           8 p.m. Feb. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, and 24, 2007                         3 p.m. Feb. 4, 11 and 18, 2007   WHERE:         The Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock.   MORE:           The Sunshine Boys follows the reunion of a former vaudeville comedy team who haven’t seen each other in 11 years. The result is “ham on wry” comedy.                         TIX:                Range from $22-$24.   INFO:             Call 815-338-5300 or visit www.woodstocktheatre.com   ###     Founded in 1974, Woodstock Musical Theatre Company (WMTC) is a not-for-profit corporation established to providing local talent with the opportunity to offer artistic theatrical productions for the viewing pleasure of area residents and to promote community theatre as an art form.

 

 

 

PRESS REVIEWS

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'The Sunshine Boys' shines By LISA KELLY Submitted: February 6, 2007 12:39 PM CT "The Sunshine Boys" is certainly a welcome name for a play in the midst of our current cold snap. The Neil Simon comedy is both funny and poignant. It is the story of a pair of aging vaudevillians who parted company as a team some 11 years earlier — not on pleasant terms. They are given an opportunity to reunite in one of their most successful bits on network television and face some struggles in doing so. Lewis and Clark — capitalizing on the name of the famed westward-bound American explorers — performed as the "Sunshine Boys" even though their relationship isn't and never was remotely sunny or warm. Willie Clark, played by Robert Riner, brings years of open resentment to the reunion. He is living in New York City, clinging to the non-existent possibility of rekindling his acting career. In the part, Riner seems to deliver normal dialogue with the same exaggerated inflection characteristic of vaudeville schtick. That may have been the playwright's intent, but, to me, it seemed a little over the top. Al Lewis (Dennis Stewart) is a more subdued character but not averse to subtly baiting his partner. Stewart makes Lewis come across as more sympathetic, subdued and likeable. Clark, however, leaves nothing to the imagination as he overtly assigns fault for all of the past problems the duo suffered to Lewis and attacks his very lifestyle of living with his daughter in New Jersey. The high point for me was when the two actually perform, in rehearsal, the skit for the television program. What we see of it demonstrates the classic timing and broad humor of vaudeville as a genre. It is wonderful. Trying to ride herd on this pair is Clark's dutiful, unappreciated and long suffering nephew Ben Silverman, played by Brian Freeman. He gives a convincing and steady performance as his character tries to make peace between the two who bicker like any other long-estranged couple. The rest of the small cast plays off the discord at the heart of Lewis and Clark's damaged relationship. Chelsey Peterson, as Nurse MacIntosh, does an especially spicy job assisting Lewis and Clark with their skit. She is particularly helpful with the only major change of the excellent sets. Directed by Kevin Wiczer, this Woodstock Musical Theatre Company production is worth a lot of laughs and some introspection into the vagaries of growing older. It continues at the Woodstock Opera House weekends through Feb. 24. For tickets or information, call the box office at (815) 338-5300.

 

 

 

REHEARSAL PHOTOS

 

 

PRODUCTION PHOTOS

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