THEATRE + COMEDY

Baytown Little Theater presents The Sunshine Boys, written by Neil Simon and directed by Gordon Gallatin.  Running Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 2:30pm, April 1 through April 17.

"The Sunshine Boys" follows the vaudeville team of Al Lewis and Willie Clark, know as "Lewis and Clark", who spent 43 years together as one of the most beloved vaudeville comedy acts in history. However, unbeknownst to most people, the team not only grew to hate each other, but spent the final year of their partnership not speaking to each other except when they were on-stage. Despite many attempts by Lewis to repair the damage, Clark remains steadfast in his hatred since Lewis was the one that broke up the act by retiring, even though Clark wasn't ready yet.

Now, it's 1972 and CBS has invited the pair to reunite for a television special on the history of comedy, with the pair representing vaudeville at the peak of its popularity. Clark's nephew, Ben, who is also Clark's agent, convinces him that one last time on-stage with Lewis will be ok, and they decide to revive their classic sketch "The Tax Assessor and the Doctor".

In classic Simon fashion, things fall apart quickly, and during rehearsals for the sketch the reasons for their breakup become abundantly and hilariously clear.