Theater review: Madera’s well staged ‘Odd Couple (Female Version)’ embraces ’80s nostalgia
By Heather Parish
In 1985, Neil Simon flipped the script on one of his most-beloved creations by adapting the 1960s “The Odd Couple” with female leads and “ ’80s Ladies” attitudes. Today, it is ably performed for the Madera Theatre Project by a group of thespians who likely weren’t born anywhere near the Reagan era. Fortunately, their efforts mostly succeed under the direction of Randy Kohlruss.
“The Odd Couple” has been a play, a TV show, a movie, another play, and another TV show. As a trope, the “Odd Couple” has been well-trod for over half a century and is familiar to most people who watched television before the year 2000. But it tends to work in any time period – -provided the cast and director can make the comedic chemistry happen.
If you were born in the 21st century, here’s the set up: 1960s Felix Unger, a fastidious photographer, becomes 1980s Florence Unger (Ananda Shaffer), a jilted housewife with exacting tastes. 1960s Oscar Madison, the slovenly sports writer, is now 1980s Olive Madison (Shelby Guizar), a news producer and divorceé with an apartment full of health hazards. The slob offers the fussbudget a place to stay and the clash of styles is sitcom gold.
As Olive, Guizar is all tomboyish sex-appeal, even in her sloppiest moments. She flits between sad-sack sucker for her ex and stalwart supporter of her friends with a cutting delivery and solid comedic energy. As her foil Florence, Shaffer eyes each moment with the fixed intensity of a bull eyeing a red cape. Her Flo is more than just fussy; she’s the embodiment of a compulsive determination to put everything in its place. Until she can’t. Their dynamic is both nerve-wracking and charming. It is like watching sisters pick at each other, knowing that they are safe to do so.
Part of that safety comes with the solid supporting cast, including Louise Alaniz as the compassionate cop, Stephanie Axsom as the brash Sylvie, Taylor Delgado-Murray as airhead Vera, and Emily Swalef as Reneé, the dramatically outspoken bestie. The ensemble delivers their zany physical choreography and quick dialogue with aplomb, although at times the diction was muddy.
The second act addition of Manolo and Jesus Constanzuela (played by the uproarious Nico DiViccaro and Marco DeJesus) takes the heartfelt comedy up a notch. They add another layer of charm and quirkiness to the mix as the heartbreakers from Spain who come to dinner. DiVicarro’s message to Olive at the end of act two nearly walks away with the whole show.
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The action is staged well and Kohlruss guides each actor on stage to nicely rounded characters. My one critique of the direction is that on opening night several of the comedic beats didn’t achieve the rhythm they needed to keep up the sitcom pace. The buoyancy of the comedy was uneven, but the show still sticks the punchlines as often as not.
Kohlruss also puts together a heckuva design team. The scenic design by Christina McCollam Martinez and Antonio Olivera III and lighting by Joel Alaniz look great and the music design of 80s sitcom themes is a nice touch. Special notice goes to costumer Dianne Kocher and makeup and wig designer Emma Raymond for capturing the particularly aggressive point of view in ’80s streetwear and big hair.
While “The Odd Couple (Female Version)” walks a well-worn path in comedy, it embraces a new generation’s interest in ’80s nostalgia and fits the bill for an evening of light, no-pressure entertainment. If you go, Friday and Saturday evening shows are at 7 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2:30 p.m. This production is located in the Madera High School theater, and the entry gate is just off of 6th Street. It runs through July 13.
Anonymous
On the program it says that Joel Alaniz is the lighting designer. Also Diviccaro, one of the actor’s last names, is spelled wrong at one point in this review. Great show though!
Heather Parish
Updated. Thank you!