‘Odd Couple’ Return to Wrangle

By Lila Seidman | Reporter

Opening tomorrow night, Theatre Palisades is bringing America’s quintessential mismatched duo, “The Odd Couple,” to the stage for a five-week run. Director Jonathan Matthau believes the classic Neil Simon comedy “is universal in terms of its appeal” and that the year it was penned, 1965—after Kennedy’s assassination and before the Summer of Love—aptly reflects our current cultural uncertainties. Walter Matthau, former honorary mayor of the Pacific Palisades, played disgruntled, slovenly and recently divorced Oscar Madison in the Broadway premiere. Felix Unger (originally played by Art Carney) moves into Madison’s apartment after suffering his own marital woes—and drives his friend bonkers with his neat-freak neuroses. Fahn’s iteration features updated talent—Michael Sorich as Madison and Scott Gardner as Unger—but preserves the original gags.