Review Of Female Version Of 'The Odd Couple' At H-B Woodlawn

From The Cappies: Those who say opposites attract have probably never met a couple as odd as Olive Madison and Florence Unger. One is a total slob, the other is a neat freak. One loves to go out dancing, the other prefers to stay at home. Chaos is inevitable when they decide to live together. In H-B Woodlawn's Secondary Program "The Odd Couple," a cohesive and hilarious ensemble brought Neil Simon's female-adapted comedy to life with true 80s-sitcom spirit.

Originally conceived as a Broadway play by Neil Simon in 1965, "The Odd Couple" received widespread recognition as a 1968 film and several subsequent television series. The classic story follows the shenanigans of friends Olive, a slovenly but fulfilled sportswriter, and Florence, a neurotic hypochondriac housewife. When Florence's husband leaves her after 14 years of marriage, Olive sympathetically takes her in, but the two quickly discover that their conflicting personalities clash in close quarters. H-B Woodlawn's production is the 'female version' of the play; every role has been gender-swapped from the original, which featured Oscar and Felix instead of Olive and Florence.

The titular couple held up the show with uproarious, energetic performances and a believable character dynamic. Katie Rau as Olive was incredibly charming as she experienced and portrayed a wide range of emotions throughout the play. From sweetly coercing Florence into going on a date to throwing a plate of linguini at her, Rau's physicality and masterful pacing built appropriate tension in every scene. Florence (Jamie Kang) was a convincing worrywart; her fastidious compulsions characterized her even when she was not speaking.

The small but talented cast was rounded out by Florence and Olive's friends, who punctuated the action with games of Trivial Pursuit. Police officer Mickey (Jasmina Tang), ditzy Vera (Vivienne Blouin), and witty Renee (Caroline Alpi) all had distinctive moments that enhanced the inherent humor of the show. The slightly cynical Sylvie (Amy Beesley-Gilman) stood out among the friends for her dry demeanor, contrasting the many zany caricatures of the others.

Some of the most entertaining scenes of "The Odd Couple" were those featuring Manolo (Cole Smyth) and Jesus (Lex Garcia), the Costazuela brothers. Their wacky sayings and exaggerated personalities were juxtaposed by their line delivery, which was straight-faced and spot on. Each of their interactions held the loving yet competitive dynamic only found between siblings, tempering their outrageous comedy with genuine moments.

One of the most impressive aspects H.B. Woodlawn's production was its adept student direction by William Senkus. With his complex blocking and developed understanding of characterization, Senkus succeeded in making the situational comedy as entertaining as possible. Attention to detail was manifested in the many props used by the characters - vintage Pepsi cans and food that could be consumed on stage contributed to the 'organized chaos' vibe of Olive's apartment.

H.B. Woodlawn's rendition of "The Odd Couple" encapsulated the essence of sitcoms, in the vein of "Cheers" or "Full House." With humor that appealed to all ages, the quirky characters, brought to life by talented actors, could find a home in the heart of any audience.

Written by Kristen Waagner of McLean High School

Image via The Cappies