Masque Productions’ “The Odd Couple,” July 23-24, 30-31, 8 p.m., July 25, Aug. 1, 3 p.m., The Grove Theatre (5177 Nuangola Road, Nuangola). Tickets: $18. Info: nuangola-grove.com, 570.208.7679.
Things have been downright odd for theater veteran Walter Mitchell lately. But he’s OK with that. In fact, it’s serving the director quite well as he works with a talented cast and crew from Masque Productions to bring “The Odd Couple” to life.
The comedy by legendary American playwright Neil Simon opened on Broadway in March of 1965 starring Art Carney and Walter Matthau. The story focuses on fastidious Felix who, given the boot by his wife, is forced to move in with his organizationally challenged friend Oscar. Hilarity ensues as these mismatched roomies cope with day-to-day life in the close quarters of a New York City apartment.
“The Odd Couple” ran for more than two years and 964 performances, earning five Tony nominations and four wins. In 1985, the comedy came back to Broadway with a female version penned by Simon and starring Rita Moreno and Sally Struthers. The most recent revival opened in October of 2005, featuring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, and ran for 249 performances. The roommates’ hi-jinks came to the big screen in 1968 starring Matthau and Jack Lemmon. Then in 1970, Oscar and Felix kept folks laughing right in their own living rooms with a hit Emmy-winning TV show staring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall.
Mitchell is a fan of the bickering duo in any medium. Having directed two of the playwright’s comedies previously — the female “Odd Couple” and “Barefoot in the Park” — Mitchell considers himself a big fan of Simon in general.
“Simon ranks up there at numero uno of comic playwrights,” he says.
Mitchell scoffs at any notion that Simon’s work is overdone.
“That’s like Yogi Berra saying, ‘Nobody goes there anymore. There’s no room in the parking lot,’” he says. “Why (has) he done so much? I think the reason is obvious. This is a naturally funny production that is perennially popular with audiences, which is why we put it on the slate to begin with. And audiences won’t be disappointed.”
While Mitchell’s appreciation of Simon’s comic genius is clear, in talking to the director, his fondness for this particular production is even clearer. He has nothing but praise for his leads, Greg Korin and Will Moore, as well as the supporting cast — Warren Rosengrant, Rich Kramer, Joe Soprano, Roger Samuels, Carol Warholic Sweeney and Kristen Peterman.
“It’s been not only a joy but, for all intents and purposes, a breeze as a director to have a cast that’s so prepared,” Mitchell says. “Each one of these actors has molded his or her character on their own, and all I’ve had to do is tweak a little bit. It’s been a wonderful ride.”
Mitchell is hard-pressed to mention a single hiccup during the production process. The cast has dealt with normal stage issues like awkward movement around rehearsal furniture, but all in all, it’s been smooth sailing. As opening night nears, Mitchell’s one worry is the onstage poker game. In the intimate venue, the director is well aware that seasoned poker players in the audience will be watching Oscar, Felix and the gang deal and bet, and they’ll be expecting realism with their laughs.
It’s that sort of attention to detail that Grove audiences have come to expect from the folks at Masque.
“This is our fourth year at the Grove, and my goal as executive producer has been to bring to that stage actors and products that are a step above the rest,” Mitchell says.
He feels that audiences deserve this high standard and that he owes it to Simon to do his work proud. Mitchell even feels that he owes it to the building that hosts Masque’s performances, a former summer stock theater that hosted Kirk Douglas, Imogene Coco and Joseph Cotton back in its heyday.
“There’s a spiritual and emotional attachment that is steeped in such history,” he explains with reverence.
The director is confident that audiences will be impressed with the high-quality work of the cast and crew.
“The Odd Couple” is, after all, a comedy, and all proper poker hands aside, the show will not succeed without a healthy dose of humor. Mitchell promises plenty of that as well.
“It’s a great time to sit your butt down for 2 1/2 hours and laugh. We don’t do that enough these days.”
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