# The Sunshine Boys is perfectly pitched comic fury **Review** — On Your Markus **Rating:** 5 out of 5 **Event:** The Sunshine Boys **Performance date:** Thursday 10 September 2026 **Tickets:** https://adelaiderep.com/season-2026/the-sunshine-boys **Published:** 10 September 2026 **Author:** Markus Hamence **Source:** https://onyourmarkus.au/reviews/adelaide-rep/ Adelaide Repertory Theatre's production of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys stars Robert Cusenza and Robin Schmelzkopf as two estranged vaudeville performers reuniting for a television special, at The Arts Theatre until 19 September 2026. The sharply timed comedy balances laughs with genuine emotion about ageing, pride and relevance, anchored by formidable performances and Peter Goers' confident direction. --- Review by **[Markus Hamence](https://onyourmarkus.au/markus-hamence/)** – **The Sunshine Boys**. Performance date: Thursday 10 September 2026. The Arts Theatre, Adelaide, South Australia. ![Two men in period suits on a staged living room set, one seated and one kneeling, in animated conversation under warm stage lighting.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/admin/2026/09/c03fc81f-71ea-45a2-9868-9d9e31f65d74.jpg) *All Images: Andrew Trimmings* ![Two vintage straw hats crossed on a cane against a warm orange-yellow background with The Sunshine Boys title and production details.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/admin/2026/09/57c5ddcd-c2f5-4a17-b1be-8141f4253d10.jpg) It is delicious watching two seasoned performers play two seasoned performers who can barely stand the sight of one another. Adelaide Repertory Theatre’s production of Neil Simon’s *The Sunshine Boys* is sharp, nostalgic and loaded with the kind of brilliantly timed bickering that makes an audience laugh before the punchline has even landed. Once one of vaudeville’s most successful comedy partnerships, Willie Clark and Al Lewis performed together as 'Lewis and Clark' for more than four decades. Years later, the former Sunshine Boys are no longer performing and definitely no longer speaking. When the opportunity arrives for them to reunite for a television special, old wounds, bruised egos and professional resentment burst back into the room. What could possibly go wrong? Pretty much everything - and that is where the fun begins. > “Robert Cusenza and Robin Schmelzkopf are a formidable comic pairing, proving that great timing never retires.” Markus Hamence Robert Cusenza is outstanding as Willie Clark, a cantankerous, stubborn and gloriously theatrical old performer who refuses to accept that show-business may have moved on without him. Cusenza finds the comedy in Willie’s impatience and oversized ego while allowing moments of loneliness and vulnerability to slip quietly through the cracks. His timing is beautifully controlled, his facial expressions often say more than the dialogue, and he gives Willie a warmth beneath all that glorious grumpiness. The silence in Robert's work is deafening. Robin Schmelzkopf is equally impressive as Al Lewis, bringing a calmer but no less determined energy to the legendary double act. His understated delivery is the perfect counterpoint to Cusenza’s explosive frustration, and the chemistry between them drives the entire production. Every pause, correction, irritated glance and recycled grievance feels like part of a partnership built across decades. These are two men who know exactly how to make one another funny - and exactly how to make one another furious. ![Two men in suits perform a comedic scene on a warmly lit theatre stage with vintage furnishings and a table lamp.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/admin/2026/09/33ccd943-fd6f-47aa-a565-c3fb6e98d752.jpg) Their rehearsal of the famous doctor sketch is the comic centrepiece, as years of resentment collide with old routines, precise timing and an argument over practically every word, movement and entrance. It is Neil Simon comedy at its best: beautifully constructed, deceptively clever and powered by characters who use humour as both armour and weaponry. The set beautifully places the audience inside the fading world of old-school showbusiness, contrasting Willie’s aged, worn New York home with a striking backdrop depicting the grandeur of a classic theatre. His tired interior, filled with the feeling of a life that has stood still, reflects a performer clinging to the memories and routines of his glory days... Beyond it, the grand theatrical backdrop becomes a constant reminder of the applause, glamour and excitement that once defined Willie and Al’s lives. This visual contrast captures the heart of the play perfectly - the distance between their dazzling vaudeville past and the quieter reality of two ageing performers longing for one more moment in the spotlight. Director Peter Goers clearly understands the rhythm of Simon’s writing. He allows the comedy room to breathe without letting the production lose momentum, drawing strong performances from an ensemble that includes Tom Tassone (who frustratingly tries with all his might to hold the the show in the show together), Jonathon Holds, Lauren Thiel (complete with thundering footsteps/prancing), Seth Gilmore (in enviable flared overalls), Penni Hamilton-Smith and Goers himself in a cameo appearance (voice-over). Each supporting performer adds another layer to this slightly chaotic world, balancing the two central firecrackers with warmth, patience and plenty of comedic bite. > “Funny, touching and fuelled by veteran firepower, *The Sunshine Boys* sees Adelaide Rep shining brightly.” Markus Hamence Yet *The Sunshine Boys* is more than a parade of terrific one-liners. Beneath the laughs sits a tender story about ageing, pride, friendship and the fear of becoming irrelevant. Willie and Al are not simply fighting with each other; they are fighting time itself. Their profession gave them identity, purpose and applause, and without it, they are left trying to work out who they are when the spotlight disappears. The production handles these quieter truths with sensitivity, never forcing the sentiment or allowing it to overwhelm the comedy. Some of the play’s attitudes naturally belong to another era, but its emotional centre remains remarkably current. Anyone who has held onto an argument too long, resisted change or discovered that pride can be a very lonely companion will recognise something painfully human beneath the old-school show-business sparkle. ![Two performers in suits shake hands beside a skeleton prop against a golden backdrop.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/admin/2026/09/bfb1bdc0-32b6-4b52-8e0a-66af27516515.jpg) Adelaide Rep has delivered an affectionate and highly entertaining revival of a genuine comedy classic. Cusenza and Schmelzkopf are a formidable pairing, Peter Goers keeps Neil Simon’s rapid-fire dialogue moving with confidence, and the ensemble ensures there is life and laughter in every corner. *The Sunshine Boys* reminds us that performers may age, audiences may change and the stage lights may eventually dim - but great comic timing never retires. Funny, touching and performed with serious veteran firepower, this is Adelaide community theatre shining brightly. **Markus' Wrap Up:** A brilliant reminder that laughter has no expiry date, *The Sunshine Boys* delivers old-school comedy, genuine heart and beautifully timed performances from Robert Cusenza and Robin Schmelzkopf. Under Peter Goers’ confident direction, Adelaide Rep finds both the humour and humanity within Neil Simon’s classic play, creating an entertaining night filled with sharp one-liners, bruised egos, long-held grudges and unexpected tenderness. It is a warm celebration of friendship, ageing and the performers who never truly stop chasing the spotlight. **⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️** *The Sunshine Boys* plays at **The Arts Theatre, Adelaide, until 19 September 2026**, presented by **Adelaide Repertory Theatre**. [Production and ticket details](https://adelaiderep.com/season-2026/the-sunshine-boys) ![Two older men in suits sit facing each other on stage during an intimate theatrical scene.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/admin/2026/09/8ff0e125-3de3-4cf4-a310-c2c968e333aa.jpg) ![Two older men in domestic setting, one seated on bed with orange blanket, the other standing gesturing expressively beside him.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/admin/2026/09/54ddeed2-a649-4aa6-8a52-d9942d8af671.jpg) ![Two performers in vintage nurse and patient costumes on stage, one seated and one leaning against a wooden table, against a gold curtain backdrop.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/admin/2026/09/71e28a0c-3466-4601-ac98-5fcd3457435b.jpg) ![Two older men in period clothing engage in a physical comedic confrontation on stage, one grabbing the other from behind.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/admin/2026/09/09c2899d-06cc-44d2-9f73-a14d55d31509.jpg) ![Poster for The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon featuring illustrated hats and canes against a warm orange and yellow gradient background.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/admin/2026/09/a9a0380e-ddf5-4074-b7e5-74c23439244e.jpg)