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Odd wives' tale
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Times Staff Writer Neil Simon's 1960s comedy The Odd Couple has been around so long and been so popular that it has become shorthand for mismatched friends or couples. The lead characters, Felix and Oscar, have become linguistic metaphors, Felix for fastidiousness, Oscar for slobbery. First a play, then a movie and finally a television series, The Odd Couple, like the Energizer Bunny, keeps going and going and going. A later version of the play, The Odd Couple -- Female Version, will get going at the Angel Cabaret Theatre on Aug. 16 for a five-weekend run. Instead of Felix and Oscar, we get fussy Florence and messy Olive. As in the original, the women are separated from their spouses and "temporarily" living together at Olive's place until something happens -- reconciliation, divorce, whatever. Many of the lines and situations are the same as the male version, adjusted to fit the female gender. Instead of poker, the women pals come over for a game of Trivial Pursuit. Instead of beer and greasy chips, Olive serves Diet Coke, nonfat Snackwells and baked chips. Instead of giggly English sisters visiting from upstairs, Florence and Olive's neighbors are the Spanish immigrant Constanzuela brothers, Jesus and Manolo. The Odd Couple -- Female Version is comical, but more sedate, and the characters are arguably more likable than the male version. Olive is untidy, not a complete slob. Florence is neat, not totally obsessive. The dialogue is witty, rather than bombastic. The characters are out of synch, rather than combative. (Think Rachel and Monica on television's Friends.) Director Jimmy Ferraro presented The Odd Couple -- Female Version at his erstwhile Angel "garden cage" Theatre in 1997, with much success. He's bringing back Linda L. Lindsey to reprise the role of Olive Madison. Donna Rossi, who played Mickey the cop five years ago, is coming back as Donna R. Manfredi to play Florence Ungar. Both women were frequent performers at the "garden cafe" and later at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre when Ferraro was artistic director there. Ms. Lindsey played Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man, Aunt Eller in Oklahoma!, Madame Dindon in La Cage aux Folles and Jewel in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, among many roles. Mrs. Manfredi played Anne in La Cage and Gertie in Oklahoma!, among other roles. Rounding out the cast are Angel Cabaret veterans Belinda Johnson (The Taffetas, Pump Boys and Dinettes); former Broadway performer Dee Etta Rowe (Miss Mona in Best Little Whorehouse, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music at the Show Palace); George Cahill III (You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running at the Angel); and Daniel Black (The Taffetas and Pump Boys and Dinettes at the Angel). Newcomers to the Angel stage are Ronnie Farley, who has been in The Women, Miracle on 34th Street, The Follies, The Curious Savage and Deadwood Dick in community theater, and Francine Wolf, who has been in La Cage, California Suite and Joey and Maria's Comedy Wedding, in Ohio and performed at Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream. The Odd Couple -- Female Version, at Angel Cabaret Theatre, 5201 U.S. 19, New Port Richey, Aug. 16-Sept. 15. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 6 p.m. Sundays and 1:30 p.m. some Saturdays. Doors open two hours earlier for buffet and cash bar. Dinner and show, $32.50; show only, $19.95, all plus tax and tip. Call (727) 847-0019.
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From today's Pasco Times Editorial Letters |
