Carlow Little Theatre Society are delighted to present Neil Simon’s classic and brilliant comedy ‘The Odd Couple’, in the George Bernard Shaw Theatre at the VISUAL Centre in Carlow later this month, from May 23rd to 26th.
Set in 1960’s New York, Felix Ungar is thrown out by his wife and his recently divorced poker buddy Oscar Madison kindly lets Felix stay with him at his apartment. Oscar thinks this is a great idea, as he “can’t stand living alone”, and Felix says that he’s “very handy around the house” and is “a terrific cook”. But Felix’s neurotic, neat freak ways clash with Oscar’s easy-going, slobbish nature in a mismatch made in comedic heaven. One of the most entertaining and hilarious comedies in Broadway history, this delightful play follows Oscar and Felix’s foibles, adventures and mishaps as their friendship, and sanity, is put to the test!
A quick look at the author Neil Simon shows the talent of the man born in The Bronx in 1927.
Simon was raised in New York and had a difficult childhood. His parents’ relationship was volatile, and his father left the family on a number of occasions. The younger Simon later studied at the University of Denver.
In the late 1940s and throughout the ’50s, he worked as a comedy writer for various television shows, perhaps most notably Your Show of Shows and Caesar’s Hour. During this time, he often collaborated with his brother, Danny Simon.
In 1961 Neil’s autobiographical play Come Blow Your Horn opened on Broadway and became a smash success, running for two years. The plays that followed proved extremely popular with audiences and usually had very long runs on Broadway. They included Barefoot in the Park (1963; film 1967); The Odd Couple (1965; film 1968), for which he won the Tony Award for best author; The Star-Spangled Girl(1966; film 1971); Plaza Suite (1968; film 1971); Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1969; film 1972); The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1971; film 1975);The Sunshine Boys (1972; film 1975); California Suite (1976; film 1978); Chapter Two (1977; film 1979); and I Ought to Be in Pictures (1980; film 1982). He also penned a trilogy of autobiographical plays consisting of Brighton Beach Memoirs(1983; film 1986); Biloxi Blues (1985; film 1988), which was awarded the Tony for best play; and Broadway Bound (1986; television movie 1992). Subsequent plays included Rumors (1988); Lost in Yonkers (1991; film 1993), which won both a Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for best play; and The Dinner Party (2000).
‘The Odd Couple’ will be directed by Mark Cradock and is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd
Performances 8pm, 23rd to 26th May 2024
Tickets €22 | €20 (including booking fee). Tickets can be purchased from the Box Office (enquiries via 059 917 2400 | boxoffice@visualcarlow.ie) via the link in our bio (Instagram) or on-line here:-
https://visualcarlow.ie/whats-on/carlow-little-theatre-presents-the-odd-couple
Cast
Speed played by Paul Dunne; Murray played by Paddy O’Byrne; Roy played by Johnny Mulhare
Vinnie played by John Jennings Oscar played by Paul McManus ;Felix played by Jamie Dockery
Gwendolyn played by Aoife Reddy and Cecily played by Niamh Deay’
Busy year
A busy remainder of the year lies ahead for the society as, among other things, it is developing a significant dramatic piece regarding John Tyndall to be performed during Heritage Week, producing a One-Act Festival in the autumn and will also be performing Hugh Leonard’s acclaimed three-act play ‘Da’ at VISUAL in October. This Autumn will also see the group taking a new one-act play by Barry McKinley, ‘3 Kings’, onto the All-Ireland, One-Act circuit, performing it at festivals around the country.
