Steve Rodgers and Brian Meegan. Photo: Prudence Upton
Here’s one for Neil Simon fans. Set in 1965, The Odd Couple is about the trials as well as the joy and responsibilities of friendships, about how we behave with one another. It begins with five old comrades playing their Friday night poker game, and bickering the while. Oscar (Steve Rodgers) is the host. He revels in being a slob, announcing himself as ‘divorced, broken and sloppy’. His Upper West Side living room is dominated by the poker (not dining) table and littered with old tin-foil takeaway containers, dirty ashtrays and empty cans of beer. Set and costume designer Hugh O’Connor has done a great job with his 1960s decor and costumes.
Oscar’s mates aren’t too bothered by his slovenly ways (although they try to bring him up on his selfishness when it comes to paying alimony), but they are concerned that Felix (Brian Meegan) hasn’t turned up to their regular game. Felix’s marriage has just broken up and his mates soon work themselves up into a lather in case he’s done something foolish. When a distraught Felix eventually arrives, a comedy of errors follows as they try to protect him from an assumed suicide. By the end of Act I, Oscar has generously invited Felix to move in with him until he sorts himself out.
Act 2 is all about how they do and don’t get along, and who is sorting out whom. Felix is a cook and a control freak. He believes in a clean and tidy home, is best friends with the vacuum cleaner, lavish with the air freshener and insists on coasters under the glasses. He goes so far as to disinfect the playing cards. It does not take long for the novelty of home-cooked meals and budgeting to wear off as far as Oscar is concerned. They irritate the hell out of each other, behaving like teenage siblings, or a long married husband and wife. How far can such irritation go before it erodes a once firm – if unlikely – friendship?
The introduction of the two scatty English girls who live upstairs (Olivia Pigeot and Katie Fitchett) as potential dates escalates the dissatisfaction between Oscar and Felix, and at the same time makes for some very funny scenes. The girls do a lot of giggling. Their retro costumes are pretty hilarious, too – at least from a 2019 perspective.
As classic comedy, it’s faultless. The timing from the entire cast (Laurence Coy, Robert Jago, James Lugton and Nicholas Papademetriou make up the ensemble) is spot on and the production never lags. As an odd couple Rodgers and Meegan are a match made in heaven.
In the program, director Mark Kilmurry asks why revisit this play when the idea of two divorced blokes living together is no longer so surprising, and in reply references the playwright’s ‘breathtaking craftsmanship’. As said previously, this is definitely one for Neil Simon fans. On opening night The Odd Couple provoked lots of laughs. It does feel dated though, a bit like watching a golden oldie movie.
What does remain relevant is how we behave to other people, and especially our friends. After all, no one is perfect, and you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.
The Odd Couple is all good clean fun – and Felix wouldn’t have it any other way!
Until 30 December. Tickets from $35 (full time students) to $73
