The Odd Couple Opens Tonight!

Opening tonight at Keyano Theatre, The Odd Couple! Directed by Russell Thomas, starring Dave Boutilier, Zenon Campbell, Tim Heggie, Leanne Osmond, Diana Cretu, Chistopher Bowers, Jim Geary and Michael Beamish.    

    

This hilarious comedy, written by legendary playwright Neil Simon, was inspired by the real life post-divorce experiences of television comedy writer Danny Simon. The play features two oil and water roommates; Felix Ungar, a neurotic, neat freak, news writer, and Oscar Madison, a sloppy, easy going, sportswriter.  

Felix is thrown out by his wife and in desperation moves in with his friend Oscar Madison. Oscar enjoys life, spends freely, gambles too often, and never cleans preferring to live in a house filled with spoiled food.  Felix, on the other hand, is utterly incapable of enjoying anything except pointing out his own and other people's mistakes and foibles. Even when he means well, his corrections and suggestions prove extremely annoying to those around him. Oscar, his closest friend, feels compelled to throw him out after only a brief time together, though he quickly realizes that Felix has had a positive effect on him.

The show runs until Saturday, tickets are $20 and available at the Keyano Box Office or online.

Auditions for The Odd Couple Keyano Theatre

Calling all actors, potential actors, and people who have the itch to try, here is your chance to shine! Auditions for the Odd Couple are taking place;

January 17^th  Session 1      10:00am-12:30pm, 

                        Session 2      1:30pm-4:00pm

January 18^th  Call backs as required 10:30am-12:30pm      

               

Auditions will be held at Keyano Theatre, 8115 Franklin Avenue. They will comprise of group readings of the play and some scene work. It is recommended to read the play in advance of the audition. Scripts will be available to sign out at Keyano Theatre Box Office, open;

• Monday - Wednesday 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm

• Thursday - Friday        12:30 pm - 8:00 pm

• Saturday                     11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Local director, Russell Thomas, will be casting 6 male roles and 2 female roles ages 25+. To book an audition please contact; Susan McGillicuddy at (780) 791-8913 or email artsinfo@keyano.ca          

      

Written by the legendary Neil Simon, The Odd Couple was inspired by the real life post-divorce experiences of television comedy writer Danny Simon. The play features two oil and water roommates, Felix Ungar, a neurotic, neat freak, news writer and Oscar Madison, a sloppy, easy going, sportswriter.  

Felix is thrown out by his wife and in desperation moves in with his friend Oscar Madison. Oscar enjoys life, spends freely, gambles too often, and never cleans preferring to live in a house filled with spoiled food.  Felix, on the other hand, is utterly incapable of enjoying anything except pointing out his own and other people's mistakes and foibles. Even when he means well, his corrections and suggestions prove extremely annoying to those around him. Oscar, his closest friend, feels compelled to throw him out after only a brief time together, though he quickly realizes that Felix has had a positive effect on him.

The Odd Couple premiered on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre on March 10, 1965 and transferred to the Eugene O'Neill Theatre where it closed on July 2, 1967 after 964 performances and two previews. Directed by Mike Nichols, the cast starred Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison and Art Carney as Felix Ungar. The production gained Tony Awards for Walter Matthau, Best Actor (Play), Best Author (Play), Best Direction of a Play, and Best Scenic Design (Oliver Smith), and was nominated for Best Play.

…In 1985, Neil Simon revised The Odd Couple for a female cast. The Female Odd Couple was based on the same story line and same lead characters, now called Florence Ungar and Olive Madison. The poker game became Trivial Pursuit with their friends becoming the girlfriends: Mickey, Sylvie, Vera, and Renee. The Pigeon sisters became the Costazuela brothers, Manolo and Jesus.

The Female Odd Couple opened on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 11, 1985 and closed on February 23, 1986 after 295 performances and nine previews. Directed by Gene Saks the cast starred Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno as Florence (Felix) and Olive (Oscar), with Lewis J. Stadlen and Tony Shalhoub(in his Broadway debut) as the Costazuela brothers.

…In 1968, The Odd Couple was made into a highly successful film starring Jack Lemmon as Felix and Walter Matthau (once more) as Oscar. Most of the script from the play is the same, although the setting is expanded: instead of taking place entirely in Oscar's apartment, some scenes take place at various outside locations. The film was also written by Simon (who was nominated for an Academy Award) and was directed by Gene Saks. 

…In 1998, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau reprised their roles for the film The Odd Couple II, produced by Neil Simon.

…The success of the film was the basis for 114 episodes of the 1970–75 ABC television sitcom, starring Tony Randall as Felix and Jack Klugman as Oscar. Klugman was familiar with the role as he had replaced Walter Matthau in the original Broadway run. Neil Simon originally disapproved of this adaptation, but by the series' final season, he reassessed the show positively to the point of appearing in a cameo role.

…Randall and Klugman also reunited in 1993 for a made-for-TV reunion film based upon the series. The movie was initially broadcast on CBS on September 24, 1993. Robert Klane was the writer and director, with a cast that included Barbara Barrie as Felix's wife, Penny Marshall as Myrna and Dick Van Patten. The throat-cancer surgery that Jack Klugman (Oscar) had is written into the script, when Felix (Tony Randall) stays with Oscar and helps with his rehabilitation.

…In the fall of 1975, ABC aired a cartoon version of the play entitled The Oddball Couple, produced by Paramount and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises. The roles were played by a cat and dog named Spiffy and Fleabag.

…In 1982, ABC aired a new version of the series, entitled The New Odd Couple. Produced by Garry Marshall, the premise of the new version has two black actors, Ron Glass as Felix and Demond Wilson as Oscar…This new version was not successful and was canceled after just 13 episodes.

…In December 2013, it was announced that Matthew Perry will be starring, co-writing, and executive-producing a remake of The Odd Couple. The multi-camera comedy will start airing in midseason 2015 on CBS. Perry will play Oscar Madison, a known slob; the role of his clean freak roomie Felix Unger will be portrayed by Thomas Lennon. The show will also star Wendell Pierce as Teddy, their cop friend (a stand-in for Murray), and Georgia King and Lindsay Sloane as Katie and Emily (taking over for the Pigeon sisters). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Odd_Couple)

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this famous play book your audition now!

To book an audition please contact; Susan McGillicuddy at (780) 791-8913 or email artsinfo@keyano.ca