By Sarah Slater
THE perennially popular play that inspired the hit TV sitcom ***The Odd Couple*** is coming to Carlow. Carlow Little Theatre Society is presenting Neil Simon’s comedic classic in the George Bernard Shaw Theatre at Visual from 23-26 May at 8pm nightly.
Set in 1960s New York, Felix Ungar is thrown out by his wife and his recently-divorced poker buddy Oscar Madison kindly lets Felix stay with him at his apartment. Oscar thinks this is a great idea as he “can’t stand living alone” and Felix says that he’s “very handy around the house” and is “a terrific cook”. But Felix’s neurotic, neat-freak ways clash with Oscar’s easy-going, slobbish nature in a mismatch made in comedic heaven.
One of the most entertaining and hilarious comedies in Broadway history, this delightful play follows Oscar and Felix’s foibles, adventures and mishaps as their friendship, and sanity, is put to the test.
The Carlow production is directed by Mark Cradock. The cast includes Speed, played by Paul Dunne, Murray (Paddy O’Byrne), Roy (Johnny Mulhare), Vinnie (John Jennings), Oscar (Paul McManus), Felix (Jamie Dockery), Gwendolyn (Aoife Reddy) and Cecily played by Niamh Deay.
Tickets cost €22 and are available from the box office on 059 9172400 or email [email protected].
A busy remainder of the year lies ahead for the society as, among other things, it is developing a significant dramatic piece regarding John Tyndall, to be performed during Heritage Week, producing a one-act festival in the autumn as well as Hugh Leonard’s acclaimed three-act play ***Da*** at Visual in October.
