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The Ungar/Madison Production
Company's current production is Neil Simon's "The Odd
Couple". It is the well know story about sloppy Oscar
Madison taking in cleaning fanatic Felix Ungar after his
wife Frances throws him out. It also includes their
poker playing buddies, Murray, the cop, Speed, who
argues constantly, Roy, Oscar's accountant and Vinnie,
the sandwich eater. Throw in the scene stealing
British, Pigeon sisters, Gwendolyn and Cecily and you
have the necessary ingredients for the comic romp that
follows.
Ben Barber who previously directed
the group's opening show "Twelve Angry Men", tackles a
new venue, by directing a comic play. He chooses mostly
high school students for these roles but they are
talented enough to make the roles their own and receive
many laughs while doing so. The group's next show is the
funny comedy, Sylvia.
Jamie Dufault, a sophomore at URI
who is majoring in journalism and film studies, handles
the difficult role of the neurotic, Felix. He clears his
throat, hurts his arm, sulks and has a wonderful hang
dog expression, too. Jamie's Felix tells Oscar off in a
funny scene but his funniest scene is when he yells at
Oscar for being late for dinner and cries with the two
sisters, endearing them to him. Jamie does a wonderful
job after being away from the stage for almost two
years. Dave DeAngelis, a senior at Chariho High School,
plays the loudmouth, Oscar, with ease. Oscar is
constantly broke, blustery and bossy but when he
realizes that Felix helped him change for the better,
the audience laughs at his transition. Dave garners many
laughs and interacts very well with all the other
characters. He and Jamie make a very good odd couple
indeed.
Their card playing cronies bring their characters to
life and make it easy for the audience to figure out who
is who while doing it. Dave DeAlmo, a senior at Chariho
who will hopefully be attending a NYC college, does a
dynamite job as the gun toting, Murray, the cop. His
line delivery is crisp, clear and clean and he commands
the stage in all his scenes. Another Chariho senior in
the show is Ben Rose as Vinnie. Ben recently did a bang
up job as Don Quixote in "Man Of La Mancha". Here he
plays the cheapskate who goes to Florida in July because
it is off season and he constantly talks about food,
enjoying a BLT on pumpernickel with no crust made
especially for him by Felix. The commentary on the food
between Ben and Dave is hilarious. James Driscoll plays
Roy, Oscar's alimony worrying accountant. He whines and
badgers the spendthrift, Oscar about losing at poker
constantly but his funniest scene is where he has
trouble breathing in the spotlessly clean apartment.
Preston Lawhorne plays the bossy, bullying Speed who
wants the cards dealt promptly and for Vinnie and Murray
to stop discussing food at the poker game. The two
actresses who play the Pigeon sisters, Jessica Woodard
and Lea Ann Richardson, are a hoot with their perfect
British accents and their mini skirts and short shorts.
Their lines are very funny and their crying scene with
Felix is a laugh out loud moment. So for a fun
filled evening of an old classic, be sure to catch "The
Odd Couple" with some talented young performers playing
these well known roles.
THE ODD COUPLE ( 24 - 26 February,
2006)
The Ungar/Madison Production Company
The George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High Street,
Westerly, RI
1 (401) 862-2446 or ungarmadisonproco.tripod.com
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