Years to the Day is an exceptional work which is supported by the excellent production by Beverly Hills Playhouse at The American Theater of Actors. Allen Barton’s play shows us one conversation between two, at one time close, friends who are meeting for the first time in six years on the same day that they last met. The conversation is at once affectionate and rough as they review thirty years of their lives, perhaps in the most real discussion they have ever had.

Peter Zizzo’s “Dan” is the man/boy of the pair. He speaks roughly and challenges his friend at every turn. But underneath the roughness is true affection for his longtime friend.

Jeff Lebeau’s “Jeff” is the more “civilized” of the pair, but his “civilization” has forced him to be dishonest with everyone he knows for all of his life. He calls out Dan’s bullshit but eventually is forced to admit his BS is more significant than Dan’s.

They are two men, both apparently very successful, but both missing and longing for human contact. They lament how social media has made them even more disconnected. They used to be part of a group of four. One other is Jeff’s ex-wife and the other is Tony who died by suicide for reason that Barton does not reveal but might be the basis for another exceptional play. Their first time out together was at a college hangout where Jeff first met his ex. One of the most telling lines in the play happens when Dan asks Jeff when the marriage started to fall apart and Jeff answers, “on that first night”. It is a preview of the secret Jeff is going to reveal that will let the audience know the depth of their trust and the friendship that continues despite their seemingly having little in common.

Barton’s writing really captures what this type of conversation might be like between two men who need each other to reconnect to their humanity. The play received a spontaneous and well-deserved standing ovation from an audience that was very familiar with theater, both good and bad, and knew this belonged in the positive category. Zizzo and Lebeau both embrace their characters and bring a powerful reality to this “two men at a cafe” stage play.

The show, in many ways, is the male version of Pen Pals (currently enjoying a long run at DR2) and, although it would be more difficult to accomplish then the Pen Pals script-in-hand staging, one wonders if a rotating cast format could enjoy an extended off-Broadway run. Different stars bringing the show to life with a 3- or 4-week run would probably get lots of word of mouth and repeat business.