The Odd Couple

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Biography

The Odd Couple is a Play (theatre)|play by Neil Simon . The play premiered on Broadway theatre|Broadway in 1965, and was followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin-offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot concerns two mismatched roommate s, one neat and uptight, the other easygoing and slovenly. In the original play these were male; Simon also wrote a version for a pair of female roommates, titled The Female Odd Couple . londontheatre.co.uk

History

Sources vary as to the origins of the play. In Danny Simon's obituary in The Washington Post , Adam Bernstein wrote that the idea for the play came from his divorce. "Mr. Simon had moved in with a newly single theatrical agent named Roy Gerber in Hollywood, and they invited friends over one night. Mr. Simon botched the pot roast. The next day, Gerber told him: "Sweetheart, that was a lovely dinner last night. What are we going to have tonight? " Mr. Simon replied: "What do you mean, cook you dinner? You never take me out to dinner. You never bring me flowers."Bernstein, Adam. Washington Post , July 28, 2005Danny Simon wrote a partial first draft of the play, but then handed over the idea to Neil.

However, in the Mel Brooks biography ''It's Good to Be the King , author James Robert Parish claims that the play came about after Simon observed Brooks, in a separation from his first wife, living with writer Speed Vogel for three months. Vogel later wrote that Brooks had insomnia , "a brushstroke of paranoia," and "a blood-sugar problem that kept us a scintilla away from insanity."

Plot overview

Felix Unger|Felix Ungar , a neurotic, Wiktionary:mysophobe|neat freak newswriter (photographer in the television series), is thrown out by his wife, and moves in with his friend Oscar Madison , a messy sportswriter . The play and the film both spell Felix's name Ungar , while the television series spells it Unger .

Characters

Oscar Madison: A slovenly, recently divorced sportswriter.

Felix Ungar: A fastidious, hypochondriac news writer whose marriage is ending.

Murray: A NY policeman, one of Oscar and Felix's poker buddies.

Speed: One of the poker buddies. Gruff and sarcastic, often picking on Vinnie and Murray.

Vinnie: One of the poker buddies. Vinnie is mild-mannered and henpecked, making him an easy target for Speed's verbal barbs.

Roy: One of the poker buddies. Oscar's accountant. Roy has a dry wit but is less acerbic than Speed.

Cecily and Gwendolyn Pigeon: Oscar and Felix's upstairs neighbors, a pair of British sisters. The former is a divorcée , the latter a widow .

Productions

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 966 performances and two previews. Directed by Mike Nichols , the cast starred Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison and Art Carney as Felix Ungar. Internet Broadway database, accessed April 12, 2012 The production 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.

Matthau was replaced with Jack Klugman , starting in November 1965 and later Pat Hingle , starting in February 1966. Carney was replaced with Eddie Bracken starting in October 1965 and later Paul Dooley . Movies.yahoo.com

Stage revivals

In 1970, the McMaster Shakespearean Players performed The Odd Couple with Martin Short as Felix, Eugene Levy as Oscar, and Dave Thomas (actor)|Dave Thomas as Murray – before any of these performers were famous.

In 1994 a version of the play moved to Glasgow and toured Scotland , starring Gerard Kelly as Felix, Craig Ferguson as Oscar and Kate Anthony as Gwendolyn Pidgeon. Kelly reprised the role of Felix at the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe , opposite Andy Gray (actor)|Andy Gray .

In 1996 Klugman and Tony Randall reprised their roles from the The Odd Couple (TV series)|TV series for a three-month run at the Haymarket Theatre|Theatre Royal in Haymarket (London)|Haymarket , London . The production was an effort to raise money to support Randall's National Actors Theatre .

In a 1997 issue of Premiere Magazine , Billy Crystal and Robin Williams announced a possible stage revival, in anticipation of success of their film '' Fathers' Day (film)|Fathers' Day . When that film failed at the box office, the Crystal/Williams revival was quickly forgotten.

In 2001, 'Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak and Hawaii TV News anchor Joe Moore (Sajak's Viet Nam roommate and close friend) played Felix and Oscar at the Hawaii Theatre Center as a benefit for Hawaii's Minoa Valley Theater.

In 2002, Simon wrote an updated version of The Odd Couple , titled Oscar and Felix: A New Look at the Odd Couple . This version incorporated updated references and elements into the original storyline. This production ran at the Geffen Playhouse (Los Angeles) from June 2002 to July 21, 2002 with a cast that starred Gregory Jbara (Vinnie ), John Larroquette (Oscar), Joe Regalbuto (Felix) and Maria Conchita Alonso (Ynes) and was directed by Peter Bonerz .Oxman, Steven. Variety (webcache), June 21, 2002

A revival opened on Broadway at The Brooks Atkinson Theatre on October 27, 2005 and closed on June 4, 2006 after 249 performances. Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane played Felix and Oscar, respectively. Internet Broadway Database, accessed April 12, 2012Simonson, Robert. playbill.com, October 27, 2005 Lane was replaced for two weeks in January 2006 due to illness by Brad Garrett who had previously played Murray.Simonson, Robert. playbill.com, January 2006

A reading featuring Ethan Hawke and Billy Crudup was staged at the Cherry Lane Theatre on January 9, 2011. playbill.com

A Venzuelan production of this at the TRASNOCHO CULTURAL THEATRE in 2009. Directed by Armando Alvarez on the cast Armando Cabrera (Oscar) Luigi Sciamanna (Felix) Juan Carlos Ogando (Richard) Alezander Slorzano (Murray) Alexandra Malave (Clementina) Stephanie Cardone (Cecilia).

The all-female Takarazuka Revue Company is scheduled to perform the show under the title "??????" in September 2011 in Takarazuka, Japan. It will star Yu Todoroki as Oscar and Misa Noeru as Felix.

In 2011, Cezary Zak and Artur Barcis (popular actors from the Polish hit TV series 'Ranczo') performed as Oscar and Felix in 'Dziwna Para', a Polish rendition of The Odd Couple. The play was performed in the U.S and in Toronto, Canada and received good reviews.

Female version

In 1985, Neil Simon revised The Odd Couple for a female cast. It was titled The Female Odd Couple and was based on the same story line and same lead characters, now called Florence Unger and Olive Madison. The poker game became Trivial Pursuit with their friends becoming the girlfriends: Mickie, 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. Internet Broadway Database, accessed April 12, 2012Kerr, Walter. The New York Times , June 23, 1985

A London production of this version ran at the Apollo Theatre in 2001 and starred Paula Wilcox (Florence) and Jenny Seagrove (Olive). cix.co.uk whatsonstage.com

Film and TV adaptations

Neil Simon sold film and TV rights to Paramount Pictures in 1967. Paramount produced two films and three TV series based upon the play.

1968 film

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.

1970–1975 ABC sitcom

The success of the film was the basis for 114 episodes of the 1970–75 American Broadcasting Company|ABC The Odd Couple (TV series)|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.

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.Voros, Drew. " 'The Odd Couple' (Fri. (24), 9-11 p.m. CBS)", Daily Variety , September 24, 1993, (no page number)

1975 ABC cartoon

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 dog and cat.

1982–1983 ABC sitcom

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. The New York Times reviewer noted "What may be surprising is how little the spine of the show has changed. The dialogue has been updated a little, but the plots are essentially the same. The New Odd Couple bounces along nicely. It adds nothing new to the craft of situation comedy, but it does provide employment and a good showcase for talented black actors, who generally don't have an easy time of it on television these days."O'Connor, John J. "New Odd Couple,' 'Chastity Gulch' ", The New York Times , October 29, 1982, Section C; p.26 This new version was not successful and was canceled after just 13 episodes.

Copyright Citations

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