The Odd Couple - Old Mill Theatre
Mon, 19 Apr 2004, 11:03 amWalter Plinge3 posts in thread
The Odd Couple - Old Mill Theatre
Mon, 19 Apr 2004, 11:03 amHaving seen several outstanding productions over the past several years, it is refreshing to have a look at this often performed production and be pleasantly surprised how refreshingly original it can be.
Having remembered the film and TV series, the play would have been a tough act to follow in less capable hands. This production of 'The Odd Couple' is one of the funniest shows I have seen for quite awhile. Noel O'Neill was superb as Oscar Madison in a role that could have been overshadowed by Walther Matthau (and indeed Jack Klugman). Yet despite this Noel made it his own. Maybe it is because Noel having come from New York originally was able to understand the nuances and subtleties of that locale and the characters in it. In fact, in some ways it looked like an episode of 'Seinfeld'.
However it was a combined effort, and the support cast was superb as well. If I had to single out any special moments though, it would have to be any of the scenes with Oscar (Noel) and Felix (Tony Rees). The relationship was completely believable. Tony Rees gave a stand out performance of Felix Unger. He played a much more sensitive (dare I say effeminate?) Felix Unger that was even more irritating then the Jack Lemmon performance in the film. You can understand how annoying this person can be to Oscar. There were good moments of slow burn between Oscar and Felix. The highlight of the confrontation between them culminated in the 'notes on the pillow' moment which on the night I saw it brought the house down.
It would be churlish to complain about a couple of lighting and sound effect glitches. The reason is because of the sheer energy and intensity of the performances. It overshadowed any tech hitches. The set was also wonderful.
This play was very much in the same league as the excellent '12 Angry Men' production that was here for the Perth Festival a couple of months ago - another New York subject written at about the same time as Neil Simon's wonderful play.
This play will be showing over the next couple of weeks, but judging from the full houses on the first two nights, you may by hard pressed to get a ticket. Try and book in advance!
Having remembered the film and TV series, the play would have been a tough act to follow in less capable hands. This production of 'The Odd Couple' is one of the funniest shows I have seen for quite awhile. Noel O'Neill was superb as Oscar Madison in a role that could have been overshadowed by Walther Matthau (and indeed Jack Klugman). Yet despite this Noel made it his own. Maybe it is because Noel having come from New York originally was able to understand the nuances and subtleties of that locale and the characters in it. In fact, in some ways it looked like an episode of 'Seinfeld'.
However it was a combined effort, and the support cast was superb as well. If I had to single out any special moments though, it would have to be any of the scenes with Oscar (Noel) and Felix (Tony Rees). The relationship was completely believable. Tony Rees gave a stand out performance of Felix Unger. He played a much more sensitive (dare I say effeminate?) Felix Unger that was even more irritating then the Jack Lemmon performance in the film. You can understand how annoying this person can be to Oscar. There were good moments of slow burn between Oscar and Felix. The highlight of the confrontation between them culminated in the 'notes on the pillow' moment which on the night I saw it brought the house down.
It would be churlish to complain about a couple of lighting and sound effect glitches. The reason is because of the sheer energy and intensity of the performances. It overshadowed any tech hitches. The set was also wonderful.
This play was very much in the same league as the excellent '12 Angry Men' production that was here for the Perth Festival a couple of months ago - another New York subject written at about the same time as Neil Simon's wonderful play.
This play will be showing over the next couple of weeks, but judging from the full houses on the first two nights, you may by hard pressed to get a ticket. Try and book in advance!
Re: The Odd Couple - Old Mill Theatre
Sun, 25 Apr 2004, 11:51 amLovely audience responses to this show, almost sold out, few tickets to Thursday April 29 show only remaining.
Call 9367,8719
Thou rank boil-brained minnow!
Call 9367,8719
Thou rank boil-brained minnow!