The Odd Couple (female version)
By Neil Simon
Directed by: Rachael
Lindley
Reviewed by: Sara Jones
They say that “opposites attract,” and while that might be
true… opposites can also drive us to do things like throwing dishes and losing
our minds!
In Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple (female version), we meet a
zany group of women who are fast friends, despite their differences (or perhaps
because of their differences). The play opens up with a rigorous game of
Trivial Pursuit being played in the apartment of Olive Madison (played
by Janette Oswald). The apartment is suitably disheveled – clothing on
the stair railing, books and trays and general mess everywhere, even under the
coffee table. It’s clear from lights up that Olive is a bit of a hot
mess – from the apartment clutter to her wild hair and messy clothes to the
fact that her refrigerator has been broken for weeks. She serves her guests
warm Diet Pepsi and “sandwiches from when you were in high school,” as one
friend complains.
The gaggle of female friends at the table are each
wonderfully played as unique characters – there’s the hardened, chain smoking Sylvie
(played by Sue Goodner), no nonsense police officer Mickey (played
by Sara Muir), the excitable Renee (played by Debbie Deverich),
and the super sweet and utterly air headed Vera (played by Laura
Jennings). While they’re playing the game, Mickey is very concerned
that their friend Florence (played by Deborah Key) is missing in
action. The audience quickly finds out that Florence’s husband has asked
her for a divorce after over 20 years of marriage. Florence eventually
makes her way to the apartment, where she is utterly distraught and doesn’t know
what to do with herself. One thing leads to another and Olive invites Florence
to stay with her for a while.
Just as in the original The Odd Couple, Olive
and Florence are a mismatch from the word go. Deborah Key as Florence is a joy to watch – the quintessential “Suzy
Homemaker” without a home of her own, she’s intent on bringing Olive out of her messy ways, though she has some funny little quirks
herself. Janette Oswald plays the straight-shooting, “tough guy” Olive in such a way that you can’t help but commiserate with her on some
level, and she keeps everyone in stitches with some of my favorite lines in the
show. For example, she watches sports because she likes “big men in tight
pants.”
Despite Florence’s protests, Olive wants them to go on a double date with a
pair of Spanish brothers that live in the building – Manolo (played by the hilarious Martin Mussey) and Jesus (the talented Jay Laengrich). Olive tells Florence that when it comes to these guys, she’s going to fight for women’s
honor “and make sure we lose.”
Rachael Lindley has pulled together another wonderful cast
and created multiple fun moments with this show. The set (built by Kyle
Chinn, designed by Candie Blunt & Kyle Chinn) was very well laid
out and made it believable that we were in Olive’s living room/dining room.
Costumes (by Rachael Lindley, Cast & Crew) were a lot of fun – how
can you not have fun with costumes when a show is set in the 80s?! Bright
colors, funky retro outfits, and Laura Jennings’ scene stealing BIG
hair!
The Odd Couple (Female
Version) is a riot of sidesplitting
laughter and amusement! The background acting is as much fun to watch as the
rest. Be sure to catch this show while you can – it runs through Sunday,
February 26th.
Support local theater!
Sara Jones
Audience Rating: PG, for mild sexual innuendo/adult
discussions
Accessible
Seating: Available – call
in advance to make arrangements
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Production Sound
Level: Comfortable volume
level
Noises or
Visuals to Prepare For:
crashing of dishes (thrown offstage)
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