‘Odd Couple’ set to premier in college theater
Demerye Paulin
News Writing Student
Landa McClure/Pioneer
John-Printes Davis, journalism and broadcasting major, performs a scene from the upcoming play “The Odd Couple,” with cast member Philip Aken, psychology major.
WHAT: “The Odd Couple”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday
WHERE: Bruce Owen Theater
COST: Adult tickets are $10 and student tickets are $5. Thursday’s performance is free to OCCC students and staff.
In 1965, playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon introduced “The Odd Couple” to the world.
Now, 45 years later, the OCCC theater department will perform it at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday in the Bruce Owen Theater.
Adjunct professor Jacque Hocking, director of the play, spoke about what separates “The Odd Couple” from other plays of the past.
“Neil Simon wrote it,” she said. “He knows how to blend tragedy and comedy together.”
The plot of the story revolves around two men with opposite personalities trying to live under one roof.
Hocking said she helped the students prepare for their roles during the winter break.
She told them to “read through the entire play, get a sense of what happened and watch the movie.”
In the story Felix Unger, with his neat habits, is divorced from his wife. He then moves in with his friend Oscar Madison, a free-spirited and less tidy individual.
When the movie debuted, Walter Matthau played Oscar Madison, and Jack Lemmon played Felix Unger.
The movie was well known in 1968, as well as its sequel in 1998 with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon playing the same two roles.
“The Odd Couple” also became a popular television sitcom, from September 1970 to July 1975.
Hocking said she felt revisiting Neil Simon’s play was a reward in itself.
She said she had a good response to auditions in December.
Eighteen males and seven females tried out for the six male and two female roles.
Hocking said making the students feel as comfortable as possible with their roles was a priority.
“Seeing the students experiment with their lines, seeing their brains process things, and allowing them the freedom to do what they want made this entire process fulfilling,” Hocking said.
For the second year in a row, the poster for the play is being designed by OCCC graphics design students.
For Thursday’s performance, admission is free to faculty, staff and OCCC students with valid ID. Otherwise, admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students with valid ID from any other school or university.
For Friday and Saturday, tickets will be $5 for students and $10 for adults.
This play is best suited for children in the middle school age group and older, Hocking said.
For more information, call the Arts and Humanities office at 405-682-1611, ext. 7558.
