'The Sunshine Boys' shine bright at Melbourne Civic Theatre

Melbourne Civic Theatre is ready to dive into the world of showbiz with "The Sunshine Boys." The show opens Friday, March 22 for a run through April 28.

"The Sunshine Boys" is a comedy by Neil Simon, a name synonymous with wit and humor. The story follows Al Lewis and Willie Clark, a once-famous vaudevillian duo known as "Lewis and Clark." The catch? They can't stand each other.

Time and temperament have driven a wedge between the two, and they haven't spoken in years. When a television network offers them a chance to reunite for a nostalgic special, old grievances resurface, leading to hilarious and heartwarming moments as they attempt to put their differences aside for one last performance.

"Playwright Neil Simon is really dealing with how hard it is to maintain long-term relationships - friendships, business partnerships - when two parties grow in different directions," said MCT's managing and artistic director, Peg Girard.

"Because their livelihoods are so interdependent, Willie, the comic who wants to continue performing, resents his partner Al's decision to retire and effectively pull the plug on the act, leaving him to start over again alone," she said. "Eleven years later, he's still holding that grudge."

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Long-time local favorites Terrence Girard and Steven Wolf have stepped into the iconic roles of Lewis and Clark. With their decades of friendship and experience on stage, Girard and Wolf bring authenticity to their performances.

"We're lucky to have two veteran actors, Steven Wolf and Terrence Girard, in the leading roles," said Peg Girard. "They were originally cast more than four years ago, when we first slated the play for production in 2020. But that plan was scuttled by the pandemic. So we've circled back around to it this season."

"Both guys have plenty of experience with Neil Simon's plays. Steven has been in six of them, and Terry has been in nine - one of them in four different productions," she said.

Audiences may be pleasantly surprised by the depth and heart woven into the humor. Neil Simon, with his knack for capturing the intricacies of human connection, delivers a script that is both heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny.

"You've got classic Simon repartee, which is very funny even when it's rooted in conflict," said Peg Girard. "But the play builds to a tone of mutual acceptance. There's a resolution that's actually very touching."

With "The Sunshine Boys," MCT promises an evening of hilarity and nostalgia. Tickets are reportedly selling quickly, so don't delay. You won't want to miss this dose of theatrical sunshine.

If you go

'The Sunshine Boys'

Where: Melbourne Civic Theatre, 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 28

Tickets: $35

Call: 321-723-6935

Website: mymct.org

Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at [email protected].

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Neil Simon's 'The Sunshine Boys' shines at Melbourne Civic Theatre