Does The Odd Couple work in 2025?
Those who believe opposites attract have never met Oscar Madison (Louis B. Murray) and Felix Ungar (Paul Ballard). Neil Simon created the pair in his 1965 play The Odd Couple now on stage at Bowie Playhouse. Although dated, the play is still filled with laughs, beautiful costumes, and male bonding. Given the period, Oscar also has his mind set on a couple of attractive chicks who live upstairs.
Act I opens with four men at a poker table seated for six. Speed (Michael Carlton Smith), Murray (David Buckingham), Roy (John Cholod), and the colorful Vinnie (Bill Brekke) are waiting for the host Oscar to reappear from the kitchen for a new deal. The apartment’s refrigerator and air conditioner have been out for weeks. Consequently, the host offers brown sandwiches, green sandwiches, stale potato chips, and warm beer and soda for his guests.
Oscar’s apartment is a smoke-filled mess. Clothes rest on the back of the front-stage sofa. Roy comments on recognizing the trash as being a week old as he adds to the pile. Roy says he can’t breathe so he opens a 12th–floor window on a hot summer night in New York City.
The sixth seat is for Felix, who is usually punctual. Here it is a little after 10 pm, and Vinnie has to leave at midnight, but there is no word from Felix. Finally Oscar calls Felix’s wife to check on his friend and she tells Oscar about their separation. She also says Felix said he was going to kill himself.
Now the poker playing buddies rise to the occasion. One, Murray, is a police officer and has a horrible list of how New Yorkers kill themselves. The men are now wondering how they can help Felix, when a knock at the door startles them. Felix has come home, sort of.
When the depressed, neurotic needs to use the bathroom, the pack tries to prevent him. Bathrooms are dangerous places. They contain pills and razor blades; Felix must be stopped. After a quorum and debate, the pack elects a leader to crash the potty and stop the suicide attempt. Felix opens the door wondering what is going on. Next, Ungar walks toward the open window.
Oscar, a popular sportswriter, is a slob. He rents an eight-bedroom apartment and is behind in his alimony. Felix, a newswriter, is difficult, depressed, and in need of a place to stay. Oscar invites Felix in and the experiment begins. The supporting cast is wonderful.
I notice writing this the next day that this is a funny scene. Perhaps society has changed so much in the past 60 years that opinions on mental health and suicide are no longer laughing matters. I hope not. Simon’s genius is in writing about his times. I call that history. It, too, needs a place at the cultural table. Imagine the arts loss without Barefoot in the Park, The Sunshine Boys, Brighton Beach Memoirs, or the dozens of other comedies, musicals, and dramas written by Simon.
One thing that worried me was the audience’s lack of laughing for Felix’s opening minutes of his stage presence. Several minutes were quiet until Ballard’s character hopped around the apartment on one leg, honking, in response to an allergic reaction. Then the opening night audience realized this actor is funny. That began loud laughter that continued.
Director Randy Barth keeps to the basics, which is all the script needs. Barth’s greatest contribution is in casting. The director selects a multiracial cast reflecting 2025 America rather than 1965 Broadway. The timing, pacing, stage pictures, and delightful physical comedy all lend themselves to laughter from the script. Linda Swann’s costumes and Dan Lavanga’s set, with pictures of framed baseball players as art, conjure up 1969.
The Pigeon sisters Gwendolyn (Ansley Gerhard) and Cecily (Maria Mitiuriev) play beautiful, passionate, giggly, fun, flirtatious neighbors. Swann dresses them in miniskirts and groovy hose from the day when Twiggy was queen.
Murray is strong with the comedy, never missing an opportunity to expand on Simon’s humor, in the role of the carefree Oscar. Bowie Community Theatre vet Ballard is convincing as the uptight Felix. He and the Pigeon sisters share a cry together ruining Oscar’s plan for a double date that had sex written all over it.
Running Time: Two hours and 35 minutes, with two 15-minute intermissions.
The Odd Couple plays through April 13, 2025 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm), presented by Bowie Community Theatre, performing at Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park Dr., Bowie, MD. Purchase tickets ($25, general; $20, seniors and students) online, by phone at the BCT Hotline at 301-805-0219, or by email (boxoffice@bctheatre.com) prior to the performance date.
COVID Safety: Masks are optional but encouraged for all guests.
The Odd Couple
By Neil Simon
Directed by Randy Barth
Producers: Alan & Penni Barnett
Stage Manager: Valerie Mikles
Set Designer: Dan Lavanga
Costume Designer: Linda Swann
Set Dresser/Decorator: Penni Barnett
Properties Designer: Alan & Penni Barnett
Sound Designer: Mo Hopper
Lighting Design: Bowie Playhouse Staff
Set Construction: Supervisor Dan Lavanga
Set painting Supervisor: Penni Barnett
