The story of The Odd Couple – two men of opposite temperament forced to live together with hilarious results – has very different associations for people, depending on their vintage.
For the more mature among us, the humorous story of Oscar and Felix told in the 1965 Broadway play, the 1968 movie or the 1970s TV series likely spring to mind.
For those born after 1975, the recent reboot of the old classic The Odd Couple TV series starring Friends alum Matthew Perry is likely more familiar.
Squamish theatre goers will soon have a chance to see the lesser known female version of the original that its author Neil Simon wrote in 1985.
Between Shifts Theatre of Squamish presents The Odd Couple: Female Version at the Eagle Eye Theatre from May 18 to 20 and 24 to 27.
In the female reboot, the uptight character of Felix is now Florence Unger and the more relaxed Oscar is Olive Madison.
The Squamish version is brought to the stage by director Michael K. Hewitt.
“I have always been a fan of Neil Simon,” Hewitt told The Chief. “His writing is very clever and very comical.”
People in Squamish prefer comedies, Hewitt said.
Simon’s personal life – he was divorced three times – is evident in the script.
“It is quite funny. I think he uses a lot of that particular narrative,” Hewitt said with a laugh. “Flo is going through a divorce. Olive has gone through a divorce… he’s taken his own experiences and dumped it into this show. It is self explanatory if you do your Simon research.”
But the theme of differences in people who ultimately care for each other is universal and almost everyone can relate to it, Hewitt said. All of us can relate to being irritated with intimate friends, roommates or partners and to how others’ differences can change our own behavior.
“There’s a lot in the script people can pull from in their own lives,” Hewitt said.
The Squamish cast stars Liz Spivey as Olive and Marilyn McVey as Florence.
For more on the play and tickets go to www.betweenshiftstheatre.com.
