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‘Odd Couple’ to coincide with theater group’s anniversary

This version of Simon play has two women as the protagonists.

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By Ariel Cheung, Contributing writer 6:44 PM Saturday, February 11, 2012

FAIRFIELD — From “The Big Bang Theory” to “Sesame Street,” mismatched duos have amused audiences for ages, all stemming from the antics of the original odd couple: Felix Ungar and Oscar Madison.

This month, the Fairfield Footlighters will be bringing “The Odd Couple” to the stage — but with a twist: “The Odd Couple — Female Version” flips the gender of the original duo.

Florence Ungar, played by Heidi Schiller, is a neat, fastidious woman who finds herself newly divorced and without a home. When she moves in with sloppy friend Olive Madison (Renee Maria), however, her life only gets messier.

“Over the course of three weeks, they go from being friends to being at each other’s throats,” said Schiller, who also produced the show.

“The Odd Couple,” written in 1965 by Neil Simon, has enjoyed a long history, from a handful of revivals to the a film and two sitcoms — even a cartoon version featuring a dog and a cat.

“Neil Simon is one of our great American playwrights,” Schiller said. “With these two characters, (he) sort of set the bar, and there have been a lot of TV shows with the slob and the neatnik.”

The production is a part of the Footlighters’ 10th anniversary season and the company’s first time doing “The Odd Couple.” Still, it’s a show that many will enjoy, Schiller said.

“I think there are a lot of great scenes that people will really just walk away with,” Schiller said.

Scenes like the one where Florence and Olive meet the foreign, fast-talking Costazuela brothers, and the foursome gets tangled up in the language barrier.

But what makes the show really click is the tight-knit cast, Schiller said.

“It’s a great cast — these are people who have done Footlighter shows before,” Schiller said.

How to go

What: “The Odd Couple — Female Version”

When: 8 p.m. Feb. 17-18, Feb. 24-25; 2 p.m. Feb. 19, 26

Where: Sterling Uhler Theater at the Fairfield Community Arts Center, 411 Wessel Drive, Fairfield.

Tickets: $14 for adults and $12 for seniors/students.

More info: fairfieldfootlighters.org, (513) 867-5348.

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