Mundelein High to perform two versions of 'Odd Couple'
Theater goers in Mundelein will have the unique opportunity to see two Neil Simon comedies in the same weekend on the stage at Mundelein High School.
"The Odd Couple" and "The Odd Couple Female Version" will be playing in alternating performances. "The Odd Couple" will be staged Jan. 29 at 7 p.m., Jan. 30 at 3:45 p.m. and Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.
"The Odd Couple Female Version" will be Jan. 28 at 7 p.m., Jan. 29 at 3:45 p.m. and Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.
The matinee performances are free for MHS students. Tickets are a recommended donation of $5 for students and $7 for adults. Tickets can be reserved by calling (847) 949-2200, ext. 1407, or visiting www.mhstheatre.net.
"The Odd Couple," a 1965 comedy classic, opens as a group of the guys assemble for cards in the apartment of divorced Oscar Madison. And if the mess is any indication, it's no wonder that his wife left him.
Late to arrive is Felix Unger who has just been separated from his wife. Fastidious, depressed and none too tense, Felix seems suicidal, but as the action unfolds Oscar becomes the one with murder on his mind when the clean-freak and the slob ultimately decide to room together.
Written 20 years later, "The Odd Couple Female Version" begins with Olive Madison inviting the girls over for an evening of Trivial Pursuit. They are soon joined by Florence Unger. Both plays follow the same plot line, but with the genders inverted, it makes for an interesting contrast.
The plays will share the same set, and the audience will be seated on the stage in a 200-seat thrust configuration (audience on three sides of the performing area).
"I think it is an interesting opportunity for our community to be able to see both of these plays in the same weekend," said Jonathan Meier, director of both shows.
"We hope that people will come back and see them both."
Rehearsing two separate plays at the same time presented some interesting challenges for the shows' director.
"I can only be in one place at a time, but luckily I had some great help," Meier said.
MHS math teacher Jeff Harding served as the associate director, and each play had two student directors, Sydney Salit, Angela Peterson, Kaila Saunders and Patricia Roques.
"Additionally, our fall play, 'TRUST,' was selected to perform at the state festival in early January, so we had to go back into rehearsal for that show also. The assistant directors really stepped up and did a fabulous job," Meier added.
"The Odd Couple" features Brenden Paul as Oscar and Thomas Ferro as Felix. Rounding out the cast are Henry Dumblauskes, Max Basso, Oscar Delgado, Diego Hernandez, Maya St. Clair and Rachel David. Marisa Nuzzo is the stage manager.
"The Odd Couple Female Version" features Kiley Hernandez as Olive and Gina Otrembiak as Florence. Others in the cast are Emily Parduhn, Karsen Sample, Annie McGrath, Emma Morton Chris Palacios and David West. Jonathan Santiago is the stage manager.