Laughter echoed through the St Joseph's Concert Hall in Leigh as St. Joseph's Players brought Neil Simon’s classic The Odd Couple to life with wit, charm, and sharp comedic timing. Performed in front of a full and eager crowd, the show transported the audience back to 1960s New York, blending nostalgia and humour seamlessly on stage. From the very first mismatched moments between Felix Ungar (Ciaran Travis) and Oscar Madison (Wayne Lythgoe), the comedy never missed a beat.
The Odd Couple tells the story of two divorced men: the obsessively neat and anxious news writer Felix Ungar and the laid-back, messy sports writer Oscar Madison. Their opposing personalities clash constantly, leading to a series of comedic, and often frustrating , situations as they try to navigate their new life as roommates. Beneath the humour, the play explores deeper themes of friendship, loneliness, and the disorientation that comes with post-divorce life , the shattering of a familiar world and the uncertain step into a new one.
First staged on Broadway in 1965, The Odd Couple was an instant success. Written by Neil Simon , one of America’s most acclaimed playwrights , the original production starred Art Carney as Felix and Walter Matthau as Oscar. The show ran for over two years and went on to inspire a 1968 film directed by Gene Saks, a hit television series, and multiple reboots over the decades.
The origins of the play have been debated, but in a Washington Post obituary for Simon’s brother Danny, journalist Adam Bernstein suggests the idea may have come from Danny’s own divorce. After separating from his wife, Danny briefly lived with theatrical agent Roy Gerber in Hollywood. One night, Neil Simon hosted dinner and burned the pot roast. The next morning, Gerber reportedly joked, “Sweetheart, that was a lovely dinner last night. What are we having tonight?” Simon shot back, “What do you mean, cook dinner? You never take me out. You never bring me flowers.” Danny began a partial draft based on this premise, but ultimately handed it over to Neil, who turned it into the legendary comedy we know today.