Odd Couple reminisent of colorful times gone by.

Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple: The story of Felix Ungar, a neurotic, too neat-freak news cast writer who, when thrown out by his cherished home by his beloved wife, moves in with his best friend Oscar Madison, a rough around the edges sportswriter. Simon’s play was inspired by a true-to-life experience of his own brother Danny.

The play describes itself best: “Two men - one divorced and one estranged and neither quite sure why their marriages fell apart - who move in together to save money for alimony and suddenly discover they’re having the same conflicts and fights they had in their marriages.”

This is nothing unusual nowadays, divorce rates are over 50% of all heterosexual unions and much less negatively perceived than when this now period play saw the stage for the first time. Except guys who are roommates these days are now often questionably gay or at least often assumed to be.

Admittedly I was apprehensive about seeing the Play of this now classic piece of Americana literature. I’m old enough to have been there when the film premiered (Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon) and recollect fondly sitting by the black and white set with my late Mother watching the TV series 1970-75 (Jack Clugman and Tony Randel). Seeing the Play that inspired these now familiar (thanks to reruns and syndication) classics might not measure up and tarnish my cherished memories. Entering the theatre as the lights dim I found my seat just in time as the stage lit and I was immediately transported to what appeared as and soon felt much like an ABC 70’s television studio ready to tape an episode before ‘a live audience’.

Oscar readies his apartment to receive his poker buddies for a regular Friday night of poker as a parade of colorful characters enter the scene, all exquisitely played by some familiar and comforting local faces including: Glen Bowser, Mike Paterson and Howard Rosenstein. We are given a very accurate portrayal of the period in: décor, costumes, and styles transporting us to a forgotten time when lime green and orange were ‘Fab’ and dieting meant popping a pill. The age of the sexual revolution unfolds before us reminiscent of such simple yet wildly flower powered and colorful moments as Felix and Oscar take us on their journey of self discovery.

The performances of both Rod Beattie (Felix Ungar) and John Evans (Oscar Madison) remain original in their own right yet respect the characters and incorporate a certain ‘hommage’ to those thespians that previously embodied these roles. An additional treat are the gals from upstairs; A pair of Brits Gwedolyn (Jennifer Morehouse) and Cecily Pigeon (Brigit Wilson) who add sugar and spice to the sauce created by Felix as it boils over in Oscars’ kitchen of mystery meats and good old fashioned junk food.

I did feel there were a few moments here and there where opportunities to detailed direction were left un-nurtured. The production still manages to steer a clear and fast paced course even though it is lengthy and has two intermissions.

Segal Centre for Performing Arts
5151 Ch de la cote Ste-Catherine

Playing: May 04 to 25, 2008.
Reservations: (514) 739-7944; 514-790-1245; www.admission.com.