DeVito praised amid mixed reviews for West End debut

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Danny DeVito has been praised for his West End debut despite mixed reviews for the play.

He stars alongside Richard Griffiths in The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon at the Savoy Theatre in London.

The play is about a pair of veteran comedians who reunite after 43 years and much animosity for one last performance.

"It shows DeVito and Griffiths at the top of their game", the Telegraph reports, while The Independent has called it a "disappointment".

The Sunshine Boys was first staged on Broadway in 1972 and then famously made into a film in 1975 with Walter Matthau and Academy Award-winner George Burns.

Telegraph critic Charles Spencer wrote: "Thea Sharrock directs a pitch-perfect production that beautifully captures fleeting moments of tenderness in the comedy without ever turning mushy."

Meanwhile, Quentin Letts of The Daily Mail said after a slow start, he enjoyed the second half, but left "feeling 10 per cent underwhelmed".

Complimentary of De Vito, he added: "He really is an asset to the show, his character a clenched fist of bragging resentment, eyes blinking in defiance, his jaw bulldogged against all comers."

The Independent's Paul Taylor gave the production two stars, branding it a "disappointment", which lacks "emotional depth".

"Admittedly, there are laugh out loud moments when we watch Al (Griffiths) and Willie (DeVito) perform their legendary doctor sketch.

"But it's easier to view Griffiths and DeVito as actors who have enjoyed each other's company during few weeks of rehearsal."

Reviewers were in agreement that DeVito put in a good performance.

Seeing DeVito's West End debut age 67 was "something to tell your grandchildren", wrote The Times' Libby Purves, who gave the show four stars.

She felt DeVito dazzled more than Richard Griffiths, who has won awards for his role in Alan Bennett's The History Boys and played Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films.

"The arrival of Lewis slows the pace," she said. "Adept though he is, in the less acerbic role, Richard Griffiths does not spark like DeVito. But then, who could?"

The Sunshine Boys will run at the Savoy Theatre until 28 July.

Speaking before the show, actor and film director DeVito revealed to the BBC how hectic his work schedule had become.

He will travel back to the US the day after the play's final performance to continue filming his TV show It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

He also confirmed he is working on a follow-up to the 1988 comedy film Twins.

"We're developing a screen play for Arnold (Schwarzenegger), myself and Eddie Murphy to play triplets, so it's going to be really whacky," he said. "I can't wait to do it."

Source & Image : BBC