Neil Simon’s comic masterpiece, "The Odd Couple"–both the original men’s version and Simon’s rewrite for women–will be performed in repertory on the Mildred M. Montague Circle Stage at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre January 24 through February 16.
The hilarious plot centers on a pair of mismatched characters who are forced to cohabitate. One is careless and sloppy, the other a neurotic neat freak. Together they make arguably one of the most memorable pair of roommates ever written, in league with Laverne & Shirley or Bert & Ernie.
The play came to Broadway in 1965 and, 20 years later, Simon adapted the play to feature a pair of female roommates. Felix and Oscar became Florence and Olive.
Beth Gumnick directs both the male and female versions of the story and, to make things even more challenging, Gumnick has cast some actors in roles in both productions.
In the women’s version, which opens the series Friday, Carlene Conway plays the unkempt Olive and Katlyn Gabor is cast as the tidy Florence. In the men’s version, opening the following night, Zach DeSutter is Oscar and Sanford Knox, Jr., is Felix. Gabor, DeSutter, and Knox all do double duty—appearing in supporting roles in the opposite production.
“The Odd Couple”
January 28 - February 16
Call for times, Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St.
(423) 267-8534,