Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Playing in Prospect High School's production of "The Odd Couple" are, from left, Jessica Mittler, Susie Heckendorf, Hannah Wainwright (standing), Jennifer L. Cohen and Michele Ragsdale.

Actors put new twist on 'The Odd Couple'

By Tim Persyn

Felix and Oscar of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple go together like oil and water--and like Florence and Olive, the counterparts for Simon's all-female version of the famous 1960s play about friends who become roommates and drive each other crazy.

Students at Prospect High School will put on both versions of the play March 22, 23, 29 and 30.

Director Estelle Piper once helped manage a theater company that produced the female version. She said this version, written in the 1980s for Broadway, is less "East Coast" and is funnier than the original, while also taking a female point of view in looking at divorce.

Members of the female cast said their version is much less traditional than the original male version, and includes a lot more swearing and sexual overtones. "They're feminists," one participant said.

Jessica Nittler plays Olive, like Oscar, famous for sloppy ways and irresponsibility. Olive allows Florence, played by Jennifer Cohen, to move in after she breaks up with her husband.

But the uptight, overreactive Florence isn't very stable in her handling of her marital difficulties. In fact, she becomes suicidal, even sending a good-bye telegram to her husband. All this is more than the easygoing, if somewhat insensitive, Olive can tolerate.

"Olive thinks Florence is just trying to get attention," Nittler said.

Rather than using poker as a bonding game as in the male version, Simon had the females, including Olive's friends, play Trivial Pursuit. The game sessions are a time for the females to bond in a way that differs from the testosterone-injected beer and poker gatherings in the male version.

"They're like group therapy sessions," said a member of the female cast.

Both versions of the play contain a huge argument between the two lead characters and a temporary breakup as the uptight member moves out and learns to exist independently.

But in the end, the odd couple in both versions reunites and renews the friendship, each having learned from the experience of living with her personality opposite.

Piper said members of the young cast have done very well in playing characters significantly older than they are.

"The audience will be surprised at how well the cast has grasped the age range," she said. "We have a well-written comedy, a funny show and a talented cast."

The female version of The Odd Couple will be performed March 22 and 29 at 7:30 p.m., while the original version will run March 23 at 2 p.m. and March 30 at 7:30 p.m. Both versions will play in the Prospect cafeteria. Tickets, available at the door, are $6 for general admission and $4 for students with a student ID card.