Stage West Does Neil Simon Proud

From the minute the curtain opens on Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” you get a feel for the time and place of the show. The play is set in the 1960s in a rather disheveled New York apartment of a recently divorced middle-aged man.

The set decorations by Jason Clark and Eric Mason lend an authentic feel. There’s an art deco clock on the wall, a standing ashtray and a small portable television set sitting on a metal TV table with a piece of aluminum foil wrapped around the antenna and a TV Guide draped over the side.

The opening scene is hilarious with Oscar, the messy half of the couple, playing poker with his buddies. Each one has a different personality. Although all the supporting actors did a great job, the one I found most entertaining was Ian Santana as Speed. His strong New York accent, and constant puffing on a cigarette, as well as his bullying attitude toward the other poker players, were hilarious.

Mia Knapp and Jennifer Scalf as Cecily and Gwendolyn Pigeon, the two neighbors that Oscar invites over for dinner, are equally funny. Their British accents, tittering laughs and “ditzy” personalities kept the audience in stitches.

Rob Glidden as Oscar and Jonathan Hoch as Felix really get into their characters. The chemistry between them is authentic. Oscar is the consummate slob, while Felix is the fussy, hypochondriac neat freak. They truly are an “odd couple” and yet they’re the best of friends.

The way in which Simon wrote “The Odd Couple” is one of its outstanding features. Despite the fact there is some physical comedy, it never crosses the line to slapstick or farce. In fact, it’s very true to life. Who of us hasn’t had a spouse or roommate who was the exact opposite of us? And many of us have gone through a painful divorce and had to adjust to living alone. Another feature is that, except for a few mild curse words and double entendres, there’s nothing in the play that isn’t suitable for anyone over the age of twelve.

“The Odd Couple” is directed by veteran director Linda Willding. For her, this was practically a “piece of cake” compared to other shows she’s directed because all the people in the cast were seasoned actors.

“We enjoyed each other every night. This is a great cast. They have all bonded,” she stated.
Linda has directed both comedies and dramas. Among them were, “Plaza Suite”−another Neil Simon comedy and “All My Sons,” a serious drama written by Arthur Miller. One of her favorites was “The Man Who Came to Dinner.”

Linda doesn’t have a preference for either comedy or drama, as she remarked “I love live theatre. A lot of times it teaches people and it makes people happy.”

Jonathan Hoch, as Felix Unger, really captures the character’s temperament and personality−his insecurity, his almost OCD behavior, and his hypochondria. The actor found that there was more of “Felix” in him than he realized.

Hoch got his start in theatre when he was in high school. Being able to tell stories and becoming a different person for a few weeks is enjoyable to him. One of his favorite roles was Chris Keller, the main character’s son, in 2022’s production of “All My Sons.”

In referring to the part, Jonathan stated, “For me it was a very heavy drama and I don’t get the chance to do those that often.”

One of the more challenging aspects of the Felix Unger role was the physicality of the part, but he pulls it off well. For example, at one point he throws a cup across the room and then grabs his shoulder and winces in pain.

Rob Glidden, who portrays Oscar Madison, explains how he got involved in theatre. “After graduating from college, I went to see a show and I just fell in love with it [acting].” His first role was in “Becket,” a period drama based on historical fact that takes place during the reign of King Henry VIII. He’s been acting now for about thirty-two years.

“Playing characters different from yourself is a lot of fun,” Glidden remarked. Learning his lines can sometimes be challenging, especially if it’s a big part. but he overcomes that challenge with a lot of practice and repetition.

If you want to laugh out loud and enjoy the interaction between two very different people, then don’t miss “The Odd Couple.” It plays for three weekends, starting with the Friday evening show at 7:30 p.m. this week. Other evening performances are Saturday, November 2nd and Friday, November 8th. Matinees are at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 3rd, 10th and 17th; and Saturday, November 9th and 16th. Call 352-683-5113 or go to www.stagewestplayhouse.org. to order tickets.