NPHS drama club presents two versions of 'Odd Couple' play

COMING TO NPHS—Starring in "The Odd Couple" are (clockwise from upper left) Ryan Spindel as Oscar, Jeremy Hanna as Felix, Jacqueline Rosenthal as Florence and Chelsea Glasner as Olive. The play runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 13 through 15 and Nov. 20 through 22 at Newbury Park High School. For showtimes and ticket information, call Karen Hanna at (805) 2983462. The Panther Players, Newbury Park High School's drama club, presents what is probably the first gender-inclusive play.

The students will perform both the male and female versions of Neil Simon's comedy "The Odd Couple" in alternating performances November 13 to 15 and 20 to 22 at the school, 456 Reino Road, Newbury Park.

The play opened on Broadway in 1965 with Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison and Art Carney as Felix Unger, the mismatched apartment roommates, one a slob and the other a clean freak. The men move in together after separating with their wives and end up having the same fights with each other as they did with their spouses.

The play was turned into movie in 1968 with Matthau and Jack Lemmon and a hit TV series in 1970 with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall.

The play was so successful that Neil Simon rewrote the script in 1986 as "The Odd Couple (Female Version)" with Sally Struthers as Olive Madison and Rita Moreno as Florence Unger, putting a woman's touch on the story.

"'The Odd Couple' is so much a part of our American culture and has been so highly imitated in television situation comedies since its debut that it has become a staple of community and school theaters across the country," said Michael Ollins, the school's drama teacher and director of the play.

In presenting the two versions, both male and female students have a chance to perform in major roles.

"Additionally, as an expression of the school's philosophy of maximizing extracurricular opportunities for as many students as possible, we have been able to cast twice the number of students than we normally would have while presenting two different perspectives on essentially the same situation," Ollins said.

The two plays contain the same story line but with some differences. The male version takes place in 1965 and the female in 1985, reflecting more of the social liberation of that era. The men play poker in the male version, and the women take part in a Trivial Pursuit game.

Ryan Spindel (Felix) and Jeremy Hanna (Oscar), both seniors, play the roommates in the male version. "Odd Couple" is Ryan's second show at NPHS. He has also performed in "West Side Story" (Baby John), "The Jungle Book" (Tabaqui the Jackal) and "The Little Mermaid" (Prince Erik). After graduation he plans to attend college to study animation.

Jeremy is president of the school's Drama Club and vice president of the Improv Club. His roles include Abner in "Li'l Abner," Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof Jr.," Old Joe Boyd in "Damn Yankees," Joseph Cornell No. 1 in "Hotel Cassiopeia" and Tweedle Dum in "Alice in Wonderland Jr."

The female version features senior Jacqueline Rosenthal (Florence) and sophomore Chelsea Glasner (Olive). "Odd Couple" marks Jacqueline's first NPHS production. She has performed in more than 45 community, regional and national productions. She plans to earn a degree in musical theater and move to New York to perform on Broadway.

Chelsea is in her second NPHS production. Last year she played Meg in "Damn Yankees." Other roles include Jan in "Grease," Ida in "Honk Jr.," Vi in "Footloose," Tweedle Dee in "Alice in Wonderland" and Eponine in "Les Miserables." She wants to major in musical theater in college.

Other cast members in the male version are William Grubb, Jacob Enberg, Matt Case, Jeff Zuckerman, Allison Watson and Devon Lysenstoen.

Rounding out the female version cast are Rosalie Cabison, Emma Rogers, Lina Mousavi, Ashley Kennon, Shea Flaherty and Travis Flora.

The male version will be presented at 7 p.m. Nov. 13, 15 and 21.

The female version will play at 3 p.m. Sat., Nov. 15 and 7 p.m. Nov. 20 and 22.

Tickets, available at the door, are $8 for students and $10 for adults. Patrons can acquire tickets for the alternate adaptation for half price at the time of the original purchase.

The play, rated PG-13, contains adult themes and adult language.

For more information, call Ollins at (805) 498-3676, ext. 1602. For tickets, call Karen Hanna at (805) 298-3462.

—Sally Carpenter