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Peer Reviews
The Odd Couple By Neil Simon Reviewed by Cristina Martin Entire contents copyright © 2008, Cristina Martin. All rights reserved.
Just the names of sloppy Oscar Madison and neatnik Felix Unger invoke a familiarity that cuts across generations. Be it in the original 1965 Broadway comedy or in one of its numerous adaptations for stage, film or television, audiences just can't seem to get enough of Neil Simon's enduring duo. In their latest incarnation by The Little Colonel Players, Oscar and Felix and the study in contrasts they present are well-received once again. The Odd Couple opens on poker night at Oscar's apartment, where a colorful bunch of friends are gathered: Murray the cop (Wayne C. Muscar); Vinnie (Bob Zielinski), an older gentleman who goes on frequent road trips with his wife but only because he can't drive; Roy the accountant (Mike Miller); Speed (Andy Higgins), a young buck with a reputation for complaining, and Oscar himself (Tom Pettey). Opening-night jitters might explain the play's shaky start; a few flubbed lines and some instances of unclear delivery were noticeable, but the actors grew visibly more comfortable on stage as the evening progressed. Wayne C. Muscar's excitability and comical facial expressions bring great energy to the poker group, both in the first scene and when the men appear later. It is a stretch to accept that Andy Higgins's Speed, considerably younger and generally more clean-cut than his cronies, would choose the company he does. The premise that bonds of friendship can form between the most unlikely personalities is the keystone of the entire play, of course, but Speed must demonstrate more affection (even if it's grudging affection) for his buddies to be believable, voicing his discontent without being quite so hostile. Bob Zielinski and Mike Miller strike just the right note of entertaining peevishness. Were all of the above characters just a bit more clearly delineated and made to stand out from each other (through distinctive mannerisms or habits of speech, for example), the poker-playing ensemble would be that much more effective. When the guys learn that their friend Felix has just broken up with his wife and he appears at Oscar's apartment thoroughly despondent and potentially suicidal, a great deal of lively physical comedy ensues as they attempt to ensure that he won't kill himself. The stage is set to depict Oscar's living/dining area, but a number of tall panels are used to good effect to suggest additional rooms and hallways in the apartment through which a well-choreographed chase occurs. Bob Klein is outstanding as Felix, pouring his every word, look and gesture into the part. It is soon decided that for the time being, Felix will move in with Oscar (himself a divorcé), poker night concludes, and the eponymous odd couple is born. Oscar's famously unkempt apartment quickly gets
a makeover thanks to its new inhabitant. (In actuality,
the stage crew deserve kudos for tidying up between
Acts One and Two with remarkable speed and efficiency,
though they did forget one crushed styrofoam cup
under the coffee table which the Felix in me just
couldn't keep from staring at!) The epitome of
meticulous domesticity, Felix soon begins to get
on laid-back Oscar's nerves. The interaction between
the two is hilariously riveting. When they speak,
their lively exchange underscores their differences
and makes clear how often couples of all stripes
speak past each other instead of really listening;
when they're silent on stage together, notably
at the beginning of Act III, their body language
speaks volumes. In addition to their contrasting domestic habits, Oscar and Felix have very different styles of social interaction, as we see when Oscar arranges a double date for them with two Englishwomen who live in the building. The roles of Gwendolyn Pigeon and her sister, Cecily, are played spectacularly by Claire Sherman and Sharon Sommermeyer, respectively. The British accents, the giggles, the eye rolls, the Sixties outfits — they simply couldn't be funnier alongside Felix's tortured social awkwardness. It is when the girls actually find Felix's vulnerability more appealing than Oscar's typical male bravado that Oscar is literally struck speechless. Part of what makes The Odd Couple ring true is that the conflict is so very familiar. We might see greater or lesser parts of ourselves in Oscar or Felix or both; we might recognize patterns of interaction that play themselves out in our lives with spouses or partners or interlocutors of any sort with whom we form a couple in the loosest sense of the word. The play begs the question: Why do certain people drive us nuts? Because they're different. Why should these differences irk us? Because in some cases they threaten our personal space, literally or figuratively, forcing us to re-examine ourselves. And upon re-examination, it can be eye-opening to realize just how much of the Other has rubbed off on us, making us not so much at odds after all. The Little Colonel Players give an enjoyable performance
of this timeless comedy guaranteed to entertain
and to instruct.
The Odd Couple April 25-27, 2008 at The Little Colonel Players Posted Apr. 27, 2008
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