The Palmdale Playhouse will present Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” tonight through Sunday afternoon. Showtime is at 8 tonight, 2 and 8 p.m. tomorrow, and Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.
“The Odd Couple” was an immediate hit when it debuted on Broadway in 1965 starring Walter Matthau as lovable slob Oscar Madison, and Art Carney as fussy neatnick Felix Unger. The 1968 movie starring Matthau and Jack Lemon as Felix was a box office hit, and two years later the most famous incarnation of the play came to television with Jack Klugman portraying Oscar and Tony Randall as Felix. Since then, there has been a 1975 cartoon version, an African American version in 1982, “The New Odd Couple” starring Demond Wilson (Oscar) and Ron Glass (Felix), and a female version on Broadway that year starring Rita Moreno and Sally Struthers portraying the Madison and Unger characters.
Klugman and Randall reprised their roles in a 1993 made-for-TV version, “The Odd Couple: Together Again,” and recently Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon tried it again in 2015 later to be canceled after three seasons. The late Garry Marshall wrote, produced and consulted on many of the television productions.
“What do you get when you put an opera-loving neat freak and a beer-guzzlinig slob in a New York apartment?” asked Annie Pagliaro, Palmdale recreation supervisor. “What looks like a reality show premise today is classic comedic gold. Join us for this not-to-be-missed comedy classic.”
“The Odd Couple” is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.
The laughs continue this summer at the Palmdale Playhouse with the inaugural AV Comedy Festival scheduled July 21 at 8 p.m. and July 22 at 5 and 8 p.m.. The lineup will include ActionBEAR!, Chesterfield, Fake Radio, Musical! The Musical! Prudence and Pervis: the Purdy Twins, the Inprov Collective, the Revengers, Wine Moms, Jetzo (July 21 only), and Sheldon (July 22 only). Charles Phoenix, popularly known as the “Ambassador of Americana,” will perform on July 20 at 2 p.m.
Tickets for “The Odd Couple” are $18 for adults; $15 for students, seniors and military (with ID) and $12 for children 12 years and under. Comedy festival tickets are $15 general admission. A special “laugh pass” for each show is available for $40. The Charles Phoenix show is priced at $20 general admission.
The Palmdale Playhouse is located at 38334 10th St. East. Tickets may be purchased at www.PalmdalePlayhouse.com, or at the box office two hours prior to each show. For more details, call (661) 267-5684.
