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Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys" At Crossroads Repertory Theater

Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys is a comedy about a couple of veteran vaudeville comedians, their breakup years in the past and their reconciliation in the present. Crossroads Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Arthur Feinsod is shepherding the show onto the stage at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

Casting Success

"I'm very happy about the cast," Feinsod says. "I actually have two men, Lew Hackleman and Chuck Shutt, who fit perfectly. Lew and Chuck are fine comedians. They've had years of experience as actors and directors. And they're actually about the right age for their parts as the two old comics. In addition to the older veterans, young veteran Brandon Wentz plays the fellow who's working so hard trying to bring these two back together."

A Character To Respect

Lew Hackleman, who plays one of the feuding duo, finds things to like about his character. "He's really not the one who wanted to break up the act. But when his partner decided to leave, he had the choice to quit, look for a new partner or try to work up an entirely new approach as a solo act. And he didn't have the energy for either of those. In a way, these sorts of transitions, this unwilling retirement angle is something that happens to a lot of people. I respect the fact that he has continued to keep things together and mostly get past this disappointment."

A Simon Finale

The plot of The Sunshine Boys builds around the obstacles that accumulate to hamper the two men's reconciliation. The tension escalates into the final scene as the duo prepares to recreate their long ago stage triumph. Arthur Feinsod doesn't want to give away the scene, but says," It's a both very funny and a bit of a damp eye moment as well, almost Chekhovian."

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