Wednesday, October 2 was the opening performance for Danny DeVito and Judd Hirsch in Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys” at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Directed by Thea Sharrock, “The Sunshine Boys” continues through November 3, 2013.
Joining Danny DeVito and Judd Hirsch is Justin Bartha, with Annie Abrams, Matthew Bohrer, Benjamin Burdick, Gibby Brand, Johnnie Fiori, Frank Kopyc and PaSean Wilson. Set and costume design by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting design by Neil Austin, music by Adrian Johnston and sound design by Cricket S. Meyers. Casting is by Jim Carnahan with Los Angeles casting by Mark B. Simon. The production stage manager is Barclay Stiff.
In “The Sunshine Boys,” Willie Clark (Devito) and Al Lewis (Hirsch) are former vaudevillian stars who, after a partnership of over 40 years, are no longer speaking to each other. When Clark’s nephew, Ben (Bartha), gets a lucrative television offer for Lewis and Clark to give one last show, the two are lured into a grudging reunion and sparks fly in this classic comedy of showbiz and friendship. Devito and Hirsch are reuniting on the Ahmanson stage 30 years after they both starred in the landmark television series “Taxi” for Danny Devito and Judd Hirsch in Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys” at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Directed by Thea Sharrock, “The Sunshine Boys” continues through November 3, 2013.
Joining Danny DeVito and Judd Hirsch is Justin Bartha, with Annie Abrams, Matthew Bohrer, Benjamin Burdick, Gibby Brand, Johnnie Fiori, Frank Kopyc and PaSean Wilson. Set and costume design by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting design by Neil Austin, music by Adrian Johnston and sound design by Cricket S. Meyers. Casting is by Jim Carnahan with Los Angeles casting by Mark B. Simon. The production stage manager is Barclay Stiff.
In “The Sunshine Boys,” Willie Clark (Devito) and Al Lewis (Hirsch) are former vaudevillian stars who, after a partnership of over 40 years, are no longer speaking to each other. When Clark’s nephew, Ben (Bartha), gets a lucrative television offer for Lewis and Clark to give one last show, the two are lured into a grudging reunion and sparks fly in this classic comedy of showbiz and friendship. DeVito and Hirsch are reuniting on the Ahmanson stage 30 years after they both starred in the landmark television series “Taxi.”
The following is an interview with , Johnnie Fiori who has a short part , but with a brilliant performance in the Sunshine Boys.
Bijan Tehrani: Please tell us a little bit about your acting background?
Johnnie Fiori: I moved to London, England in 1996 to pursue my musical career. I am a singer-songwriter and I wanted to get more of a British sound to my music and I thought the best place to be would be London. My music is a fusion of Rock and Blues. When I got to London, it was really funny, because The first 3 producers I worked with were Americans, I started doing House music. House music took me all over the world and I was very fortunate to have that time in my life, but then in 2002 a friend approached me about acting and, coming from Los Angeles, I had no desire whatsoever to act; hadn’t thought about it—nothing. She said that this was something that you might want to pursue, and it was a musical, which would give me a chance to act and sing. I met with the director and the creative team and I really loved the director. His name was Rob Bettinson, a very no-nonsense northerner, and I enjoyed the process so much that ten years later I am still doing it. I have to thank my agent Jacquie Drewe and Curtis Brown! When I started out, I knew nothing about the stage. Everything I learned about being a stage actor, I learned while doing it. I’ve had amazing directors. I am working right now with Thea Sharrock; the last play I did I worked with Rufus Norris, who is now the artistic director of the National Theatre in London, so I have been very fortunate to go from strength to strength. On November the 26th I have a new film coming out, my first, and it’s called “The Powder Room”. The film is directed by MJ Delaney, written by Rachel Hirons, and produced by Damian Jones, who did the Iron Lady with Meryl Streep. The film’s journey started at the Edinburgh fringe Festival as a play. Then to The Soho theatre, Where it was called “When women wee” The film also stars Sheridan Smith, Oona Chaplin, Jaime Winstone and Kate Nash.
BT: How much did your experience with the British Theatre help you with your work in general? 
JF: It has helped me tremendously; and given me discipline. 6 days a week 8 shows a week ain’t no joke. Seriously, it is such an honor to work on the British stage. When I think about great actors, who’ve come from the stage I think of Lawrence Olivier, Judy Dench, Maggie Smith, Bette Davis and Richard Griffiths. Richard Griffiths played the part of Al Lewis in The Sunshine Boys in London. Working with Richard was an honor and a privilege. In mastering my craft, I realize it is not only the craft but the ability to communicate with people. I meet people from all walks of life through acting. All of which have wild, brilliant, mysterious and wicked funny stories. So it has been a phenomenal launching pad, to be able to learn my craft on a British stage.
BT: How did your work on Sunshine Boys start? How were you approached and how as the experience?
JF: I auditioned just like everybody else, having done Motormouth Maybelle in the musical Hairspray, which I originated in London. I wanted to do a straight play, along came the opportunity to do Neil Simon, who is one of the great American playwrights, and to sink my teeth into something that would take me on a journey. The part is small but intricate. It’s a lovely little journey and it is a sweet-spot, as I call it. The casting director was Maggie Lund, and Maggie had cast me in a previous play. When I got the call, I was over the moon—really over the moon! At that time I hadn’t been told that Danny Devito was attached to the project. I was told a couple days later about Danny and Richard Griffiths. Richard became my mentor and my friend, and I learned a lot from Richard. The world is a colder place without him.
BT: What was it like working with Danny Devito?
JF: Amazing, Danny is a consummate professional and up until the last day of the show in London last year, we were still running lines and trying different things. and I love the fact that he is always willing to try different things. Danny has a huge body of work, whether it is comedy, dramatic, or whatever, and working on stage with him on a nightly basis, I feel like an athlete. I must be in peak condition in order to do this journey because you have to your wits about you when working with him because he is so fast and clever and I can’t say enough about him! I can’t wait to get on stage with him: that’s what it is like. I can’t wait to be in that moment with him and it builds a lot of energy and anticipation. We have these barbs back and forth but in between those barbs, I hope the audience realizes that this is somebody that I truly love, somebody that I want to get better with and nurture the relationship.
BT: What are your future projects?
JF: To be honest, I am in the moment. So, whatever presents itself, I am available and open to it—I have always been that way. Life is my future project. Having said that I’m very excited to see The Powder Room girls again.
The Powder Room Premiers in London on November 26th.