Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys" was already a bit of nostalgia when it opened on Broadway in 1972, portraying two long-retired vaudevillians who re-ignite an old feud when they team up for a televised comeback.

Today, their shtick seems more antique than ever, as Simon's story of two men left behind by changing times has been outdated by a society that's continued to change since the show's debut 32 years ago.  The crusty characters' discussion of that hot young comic, Flip Wilson, as well as the throwaway line, "Don't worry, I've got Social Security," were never meant to be played for big laughs.

That said, Oyster Mill Playhouse's energetic new production of "The Sunshine Boys," directed by Marcie Warner, puffs a good deal of life into this period piece.

It opens in a shabby Upper West Side room, where elderly Willie Clark sits in his pajamas, watching TV and hectoring his nephew, Ben, an actor's agent, to find him work.  When Ben comes through with a gig that depends on Willie's reuniting with his old vaudeville partner, Al Lewis, Willie's long-simmering resentment toward Al -- the two have not spoken in more than 10 years -- imperils the opportunity.  Ben (in a confident portrayal by Wayne Loper) and Al must persuade Willie to take the job.

Al's slights against his old partner at first seem insignificant, but are eventually revealed to have caused deep pain to Willie.

Thanks to the enthusiastic performance of Malcolm H. Cohen as Willie, and the dignified, winning work of Howard Hurwitz as Al, the old men's troubles never turn mawkish.

Only Cohen's accent, which on Friday's opening night wandered from the Catskills to the Susquehanna Valley and back again, occasionally betrayed the stars' depictions of Borscht Belt comedians.

It helps that playwright Simon had a light touch with these two old hands.

Willie and Al are cranky, peevish and intensely proud, but above all, still looking to get laughs.

That, happily, is an attitude that doesn't get old.