The odd couple fitted in perfectly
1 Jul 11
On 27th and 28th May, Northholm Grammar School once again came to Kangaroo Valley to perform their latest production, ‘The Odd Couple’.
Last year, many people in Kangaroo Valley, were treated to their brilliant production of ‘A Few Good Men’, so expectations were high.
Their director and the schools’ drama coordinator, Brad Turbott, once again generously invited me to bring along 22 students from the Scots college ‘Glengarry’ campus to see their first show.
In 1965, Neil Simon’s, ‘The Odd Couple’ had a hugely successful run on Broadway.
The film version starred Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau and its TV series, starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman, topped the ratings for many seasons.
The ‘male version’ was written first and was so popular that Neil Simon also wrote a ‘female version’ in 1981which starred Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno.
The Kangaroo Valley Community Hall is a great stage to play but has many limitations.
This production maximized the positives and showed minimal negatives with the set design. The apartment set was well balanced and perfectly furnished with lots of interesting features for the cast to work with and visually effective for the audience.
As the set was tight , simple and effective it allowed the performers to work fluidly in their new surroundings.
The performers were outstanding, especially considering their ages and the footsteps in which they had to follow.
They kept up a great tempo and displayed excellent comic timing in their various hilarious situations.
I unfortunately only saw the ‘male version’, but from sources who had seen both, I am told the female script gave the performers more scope to entertain.
In the male version, the two room-mates, besides both being writers and from recently broken marriages are polar opposites. Oscar –the slob and Felix – the neat freak.
At one stage late in the show they finally try to double-date with a couple of cheeky sisters from England, who live in the same apartment block.
In the female version the girls, Florence and Olive, try and arrange a dinner with two Spanish brothers, each of their situations resulting in disastrous but hilarious outcomes.
All credit to this quality production in all facets.
The valley is very lucky to have the opportunity to enjoy this schools talents and generosity, which I hope are fully supported if we are presented with any of their future shows.
Lance Brown