“The Odd Couple: Female Version” opening Friday
Published 1:45 pm Wednesday, February 28, 2024
The play “The Odd Couple: Female Version” by Neil Simon is opening Friday at West T. Hill Community Theater.
Performances will be March 1 to 3, and 8 to 10. Friday and Saturday shows start at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday shows start at 3 p.m.
“The Odd Couple” premiered on Broadway in 1965, and is about two mismatched roommates: Felix Ungar who is neat and uptight, and Oscar Madison who’s messy and casual. Neil Simon adapted the play in 1985, swapping the characters’ genders with female roommates, Florence Ungar and Olive Madison, for “The Female Odd Couple.”
West T. Hill Managing Director Karen Logue is directing the play. She said the play is a fast-paced, contemporary comedy.
“We join Olive Madison and the girls in a game of Trivial Pursuit,” Logue said. “Hilarity ensues as two of the girls, polar opposites, wind up living together for mutual support as they navigate changes in their lives. They try dating two charming and colorful neighbors – the Constanzuela brothers from Spain.”
Logue said she believes their patrons are aching for some laughter, and that audiences will enjoy the play’s excellent comedic dialogue.
“I believe the audiences will appreciate the snappy conversational dialogue and the characterizations portrayed by every one of our actors,” she said. “Each character is unique and quirky in their own right, which should prove to be very entertaining.”
Olive Madison is played by a West T. Hill veteran actress Beth Marlowe; and Florence Unger is played by Kassidy Catron, a newcomer to their stage. The Constanzuela brothers are played by Brandon Long and Steve Southerland.
Katie Followell is playing Vera, Brianna Bruner is playing Renee, Mary Carol Porter is playing Mickey, and Jesslyn Newhall is playing Sylvie.
Logue said they have wanted to bring back this show for several seasons. They did the show 32 years ago, and was the last play West T. Hill performed in the “Black Box Theatre” on Centre College’s campus.
“It sold out before we opened and we even held it over for one additional performance, which also sold out,” Logue said. “I directed that show as well, and have some great memories.”
“The Odd Couple: Female Version” comes after several children’s shows this season. Upcoming shows include the classic “Harvey,” then a touching comedy “Ripcord.”