Tom Della Santa shone in his role as Willie Clark in Friday night's debut of Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys," produced by the Butler Little Theater.

He portrayed an ornery curmudgeon actor whose fallout with his vaudeville partner affected his life for years.

Della Santa capably manipulated the audience's emotions. One minute the audience members felt sympathy for Willie Clark, the aging actor, and the next minute after delivering the quintessential Simon barb, they were laughing and thinking him rouge.

Della Santa played the role before when "The Sunshine Boys" first appeared on the Little Theatre stage during the 1983-1984 season.

"The Sunshine Boys" is a slower paced comedy that required Della Santa to be on stage, in character and reciting dialog the entire show, which requires great stamina and fortitude.

Gary Collar, who was forced to exhibit equal amounts of admiration and exasperation, played Della Santa's nephew. Collar is able to make us feel nephew Silverman's uncomfortable predicament.

At times it was painful to watch the realization catch up to the aging actor that possibly he'd had his last curtain call, but in short order a Simon quip put an end to the pity party.

Della Santa's sparing partner is Robert Meals, who plays Al Lewis, the other half of the comedy team of Lewis and Clark. Meals plays an old man quite well and his accent is delicious.

Once the timing of "The Doctor Will See You Now" sketch got rolling with Lewis and Clark, it garnered its share of laughs from the partially full house opening night.

Stealing her one and only scene was the daring Amy Evans, who played the voluptuous, curvaceous nurse of Willie Clark in their sketch. She adequately portrayed the luscious piece of eye candy that got Lewis and Clark's hearts racing.

Evans had said during rehearsal her scene is just pure fun and she definitely had her share during her brief appearance on stage.

The show is a debut for director Sis Fleming, who should be proud of her freshman attempt. Despite a slow-moving first act and the fact that the show is not Simon's funniest comedy, the great acting by the cast made an evening with the "The Sunshine Boys" worth it.

Also appearing are Ron Lockwood, Shirley Ann Minehart and Sue Switzer.