The ‘Odd Couple’ Diane Scott (left) and Janet Graf. (Photo by Tony Pratt/Sun Day)
The Neil Simon play, “The Odd Couple” comes to life on the Drendel Ballroom stage in July, highlighting the hilarity of two mismatched roommates trying to share a New York apartment with very different standards of cleanliness and decorum.
Although most fans of the play (or the 1968 movie or the popular sitcom of the 70s) are familiar with the fastidious Felix Ungar and the slovenly Oscar Madison, fewer may be familiar with Simon’s updated version, adapted by Simon himself in 1985. It features two women in the lead roles. In the Sun City production, audience members will be delighted by the antics of Florence and Olive, who instead of playing poker like their male counterparts, play the board game Trivial Pursuit with their friends.
Kevin Fenner makes his directorial debut at Sun City, directing the cast of eight.
“Neil Simon is an icon as a comedy writer,” says Fenner. “He wrote over 30 plays and made-for-TV movies, and at one point had four of his shows on Broadway at the same time.” Fenner describes Simon’s writing as not being a “string of jokes,” but rather storytelling in a hilarious way, taking the time to develop the characters, who ultimately endear themselves to the audience.
Judy Stage is producer for “The Odd Couple,” but also plays the part of Mickey the cop.
Monday, June 24, and Tuesday, July 9, from 9 a.m.to 12 p.m. in the Hickory Room in the Prairie Lodge.
TICKET PRICES:
$12 each
SHOW DETAILS:
Performances are July 17-19 at 7 p.m. in Drendel Ballroom
ADDITIONAL TICKET INFORMATION:
Call Beverly McKeen at 847-9022844
“Judy is wonderful as Mickey,” says Fenner. “Mickey’s the type of female cop who takes over when things go off the rails, and gets things back down to earth.”
Stage, no stranger to the Sun City Theatre, is quick to acknowledge all the hardworking people who make the show possible behind the scenes. From set design, costumes, makeup, props, and stagehands, all the way to ticket sales and ushers, Stage says the play is a concerted group effort, a sum of all its parts.
“There are lots of volunteers,” she says. “We do it because we love it.”
Stage feels confident that the show will bring a lot of laughs, since she often finds herself cracking up.
“It’s going to be a fun show. I still laugh at the same things every time in rehearsal!”
Stage says the cast is made up of hard workers, who are enthusiastic to share the comedy with their audience.
Fenner agrees.
“It’s a marvelous cast,” he says. “They’ll make me look so good!”
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