GLT’s 'Odd Couple' Is A Lot Of Fun

Oscar Madison is an unkempt sportswriter, living the carefree live of a bachelor. 

Felix Unger is a fastidious, neurotic news writer who can’t help but worry.

The two friends are completely mismatched, but they end up living as roommates in Madison’s apartment. 

It’s this comedic clash of personalities and lifestyles that provides the setup for Neil Simon’s satirical play “The Odd Couple,” which  premiered on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre in 1965 and is Greenwood Little Theatre’s latest production. It will open  Thursday at GLT’s new venue, the auditorium at Davis Elementary School, 400 Cotton St. 

The play by the Pulitzer- and Tony-winning writer was adapted for the big screen with a movie of the same name, released in 1968, followed by a sitcom, also of the same name, that ran on ABC from 1970 to 1975.

Oscar, after finding out that Felix’s wife, Frances, is intending to divorce him, allows his friend to stay with him at his apartment. 

Felix, though initially hesitant, soon accepts the invitation upon the realization that the two living together can each save money for their respective alimony payments. 

It’s refreshing to see such a popular work adapted at the local level, with Greenwood residents taking on the roles.

Franklin Riley and Taylor Buchanan, both veteran thespians, are both adept at portraying their characters Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, respectively, that you’ll think it’s a natural fit.

Felix, ever despondent, belittles himself in self pity. “I hate myself, boy, do I hate me,” he says at one point in the play.

Oscar, in his own way, sprinkles some advice to Felix to help him get back on his feet.

“Think of warm Jell-O,” Oscar advises at one point. 

In another instance, Oscar points out to his friend that there have to be some valid reasons as to why there are 100,000 divorces a year. 

It’s this back and forth between the two main characters that creates the bulk of the comedy, though the background cast also provide some equally funny laughs.

The little theatre’s set design of Oscar’s untidy bachelor’s pad — crumpled newspapers, pizza boxes and articles of clothing littered throughout, with a fog machine to mimic the haziness of smoke from Oscar’s cadre of poker players — is also impeccable. 

Life has been rough and disorienting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. So, if you’re needing a laugh, there’s no better way to treat yourself than by attending a showing of the LITTLE THEATRE’s take on “The Odd Couple.” 

The little theatre, the second-oldest community theater group in the state, like other institutions, has been hampered by the pandemic, which led to a two-year hiatus on live productions. Despite these setbacks, the little theatre is ready to get in the spotlight again.

Greenwood has a gem of a community theater group that’s willing to continue to invest in the field of performing arts in the community. We should consider ourselves lucky that we still have such a institution here. 

The curtain will rise at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For tickets, visit www.greenwoodlittletheatre.com, call 662-219-3822 and leave a message or send an email to ticketing@greenwoodlittletheatre.com.

- Contact Gerard Edic at 581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.