It’s hard to believe that the Tony Award-winning “Odd Couple” premiered on Broadway 50 years ago, and the Footlight Players bring Neil Simon’s classic comedy back to the stage all these decades later for an ageless look at these two mismatched roommates.
Opening Footlight Theatre’s 66th season, the dynamic cast of the “Odd Couple” offers genuine talent with genuine ability to relate since the two title characters are real life partners and roommates.
Jeremiah Souza, Hoosier Star 2013 winner, portrays persnickety Felix Unger, while Kevin Mellen depicts the messy roommate Oscar Madison.
“It helps when you already have that roommate chemistry,” Souza said of the pair’s work onstage. “Some of this dialogue I can even hear us saying to each other at home.”
Other cast members include Marquette High School theater and music director Amy Crane who portrays Gwendolyn Pigeon, and Crane’s real-life husband, Andrew Crane plays Vinnie. Local actors Hillary Havlin, David Mikolajczyk, Ken Siegfried, and Jacob West return to the Footlight stage for the show which is directed by Laura Meyer who has directed this script twice before.
“This has been a very devoted cast from the very beginning,” Meyer said.
“They work well together and still have a lot of fun. It’s a challenge because each of the male roles are very different, but it’s shaping up to be a very funny show with lots of zingy one-liners.”
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The Footlight Players has a strict late policy, so make sure to arrive early. Doors open 45 minutes prior to curtain. Reservations will be held until 15 minutes prior to curtain unless secured with a Footlight Season Gift Card or by paying for tickets in advance.
Heather Augustyn is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.
Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple”
Where: Footlight Theater, 1705 Franklin St., Michigan City
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Tickets: $12; $10 for children 12 and younger
Details: 219-874-4035 or www.footlightplayers.org