Theater Review: 'The Odd Couple' at Legacy Theatre in Branford

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member and Naugatuck Patch Neighbor Nancy Sasso Janis

Click to read on In The Wings 2.0

Legacy Theatre is presenting “The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon in its jewel-box space in Branford through Oct. 11. Eric Santagata, Legacy’s new artistic director, directs the comedy.

“The Odd Couple” made its premiere on Broadway in 1965 under the direction of Mike Nichols, and the characters were famously revived in a 1968 film and popular 1970s television series. It also is the source of several other derivative works and spin-offs.

The plot of the play is based on two completely mismatched roommates. Sportswriter Oscar Madison is the slovenly, easygoing and recently divorced owner of the apartment. Felix Ungar, a newswriter, is Oscar’s closest friend. Ungar (spelled Unger in the tv series) is a neurotic, obsessively neat hypochondriac who is (not surprisingly) thrown out by his wife Francis early in the first act.

Erik Bloomquist, the only Equity member of the cast, returns to Legacy to take on the role of Felix, described once as “a walking soap opera.” Bloomquist played Jay Gatsby in 2022 and has also worked at Playhouse on Park, Hartford Stage, Ivoryton and Valley Shakespeare Festival.

Ben Pitts does well with the role of the hard-drinking Oscar. His program bio indicates that after practicing healthcare law for several years, “he finally came to his senses and decided to do ‘The Odd Couple’ in Connecticut.”

Neil Fuentes nearly steals the show in the supporting role of Murray, a NYPD policeman who is one of Felix's and Oscar's poker buddies. I know Señor Fuentes is the co-founder of the New Haven Academy of Performing Arts and Artistic Director of Broadway on Main Theatre Company. What a treat it was to see this Venezuelan-born actor, director, producer and arts educator on stage.

The sarcastic poker buddy named Speed is played by Stephen DePasque in his Legacy debut, while the hen-pecked Vinnie is portrayed by Dominic Paolillo, making his Legacy debut in his hometown of Branford. The poker players also include Roy, Oscar's accountant, who has a dry wit. Max Evans, a NJ/NYC-based actor, plays Roy in this production in his home state of CT.

Cecily and Gwendolyn Pigeon are Felix and Oscar's giggly upstairs neighbors. The British sisters agree to a double date with the roommates. In her professional debut, Penny Amara plays Cecily, a divorcée. Desi Amato makes her Legacy debut in the role of Cecily’s sister Gwendolyn, a widow. Amato was part of the national tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Scenic and lighting design is by Jamie Burnett. The one set is the living area in Oscar’s New York apartment on Riverside Drive that is sloppy until Felix becomes his roommate. Oscar answers his rotary dial telephone, Felix uses a canister vacuum, and we see a kitchen with appliances of the time period. Colleen Callahan is the credited props designer, which includes plates of edible food and smoking materials that are used onstage.

Jimmy Johansmeyer, a talented costume designer who has also performed on the Legacy stage, brings the characters to the mid 1960s. The guys’ outfits for the weekly poker game and the suits that they change into for their dates reflect the era. The dresses that Johansmeyer stitched for the Pigeon sisters feature “mod” prints. They flatter the actresses and are paired with brightly colored tights and shiny boots. The outfits are topped with well-styled wigs.

Michael Skinner is the sound designer and places music from the sixties between the scenes.

As someone of the generation of the early seventies' sitcom, I somehow expected more from the source material. While there are some funny lines, the script did not really live up to the level of what has become to be known as a classic comedy. Perhaps the story has not aged well, and I cannot see younger audiences appreciating much of the humor. There is more discussion of suicide than in most comedies. The three-act play is presented with one 15-minute intermission in between the two scenes that make up the second act.

Due to high demand, the venue has added four more shows for “The Odd Couple.” Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2pm, Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2pm, Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7pm and Sunday, Oct. 11 at 2pm. Tickets at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/LegacyTheatre/6430... or call 203-315-1901.

The 2027 mainstage season at Legacy Theatre will include “The Bridges of Madison County” (April-May,) “Peter and the Starcatcher” (July-August) and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (September-October.)