The Odd Couple Strikes Again at the Walnut St. Theatre

Theater: Walnut Street Theatre
Show Title: The Odd Couple
Opened: March 11, 2008
Seen: March 19, 2008
Reviewer: Gary Labowitz
Submitted: March 20, 2008

The Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA presents “The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon, directed by Bill Van Horn.. March 11 – April 27, 2008.

Is there anyone in the country above the age of 30 who hasn’t seen “The Odd Couple?” Or the Black OC? The women’s OC? The movie? The TV series? The show, multiple times? Why would the Walnut Street Theatre offer another production of “The Odd Couple?”
Multiple choice quiz.
Select the best answer:
a. It’s a bitingly funny show.
b. It is easy to identify with – there is a little Oscar and Felix in us all.
c. There may be persons who have seen the movie and the TV show but never had
the pleasurable experience of seeing it in its true medium: live theater.
d. All of the above.

Did you get 100% on the test?

Actually, even if you are in the category of those who have seen “The Odd Couple” in live theater, answers a. and b. would bring you back again and again. Each production brings its own stamp to the result; a nuance here, an old-ance there.

In this case, we have two major issues to deal with. First, and foremost, we have a mugging contest. The faces! Ah, the faces! Avi Hoffman as Oscar Madison and Gary Marachek as Felix Ungar duel it out getting laughs with their faces. It’s a tie! They will have to share the Gold Cup for Mugging. And the supporting cast of Harry Philibosian, Michael Serratore, David Volin, and Jeffrey Coon get the facial laughs as well. It’s a feast of really odd-ball characters wisecracking and mugging to take us to the laughing mode. And the audience does laugh. I laughed, even though this play is far from new to me. I suspect you will, too.

If these characters don’t do it for you — wait, there’s more. The Pigeon sisters, played by Madi Distefano and Leah Walton are their own personal laugh riot. And it is contagious. Their inane uproar over their own inane conversation (mostly weak double entendres) is hysterical and drags the audience along with them.

The show is solid. The cast is solid. And it really is a laugh riot.