Opposites attract or Extreme opposites

There's no poker game in Waubonsie Valley's version of "The Odd Couple." Instead, the mismatched roommates and their pals play a spirited game of Trivial Pursuit.

Playwright Neil Simon actually made the change when he updated the Broadway hit in the 1980s, recasting it with female leads.

Messy sports writer Oscar Madison becomes Olive Madison, and neurotic Felix Ungar becomes Florence Ungar.

Waubonsie Valley High School will present three performances of this version of "The Odd Couple," opening tonight with junior Amy Berger as Florence and senior Brittney Thomas as Olive.

"We decided to tailor the show more toward the talent," said faculty adviser and director Gary Smiley, adding that auditioning actors included "incredible women who've got instinctive comedic talent. They've got the Neil Simon thing down."

The formula includes a set-up line or two followed by a punch line, a rhythm that was enormously successful on Broadway, in the movies and on television for Simon.

Smiley said he was initially resistant to a female "The Odd Couple."

"I've always had tunnel vision when it comes to 'The Odd Couple.' It's a guys' show, period, end of sentence," he said.

Then he took a look at the script and discovered how well it plays.

"Simon realized what would work for both genders," he said.

The script has been tweaked a bit beyond Simon's adaptation to make it appropriate for youthful audiences.

For example, Berger said, indulgence in alcohol has been erased from the show. Instead, characters chug a highly caffeinated drink.

Dated references have been replaced with modern ones.

"We're doing a 2007 version," Smiley said. "The show was written in the mid-60s. It's still a phenomenal show. It's not that different a show."

For the most part, this comedy classic about two unattached, polar-opposites sharing an apartment remains intact, with just a few superficial modifications.

Berger, whose acting credits include heavily dramatic roles, said she relishes her role as Florence.

"Florence is probably the most fun character I've ever played," she said.

"She's very neurotic, and she's a clean freak. When Florence first comes in, all her friends have found out that she wants to commit suicide because her husband just broke up with her. She's very melodramatic."

With her friends' support, Florence regains her composure. Olive, who has little patience with Florence's quirks, does her part to help Florence through this crisis, often resulting in comedic situations with a poignant twist.

"There's a date scene where she and Olive go on a double date with two Spanish brothers," said Berger, adding that language barriers lead to laughs.

Without giving too much away, Berger said, "Everything works out for each person."

If you go

What: "The Odd Couple (female version)" staged by Waubonsie Valley High School

When: 7:30 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday

Where: Waubonsie Valley High School auditorium, 2590 Ogden Ave., Aurora

Tickets: $6 for adults, $5 for students and seniors

Info: (630) 375-3300 or wvhs.ipsd.org/activities_theatre.asp

'The Odd Couple'

Cast

Olive: Brittany Thomas

Florence: Amy Berger

Sylvie: Chloe Murawski

Mickey: Edna Flowers

Renee: Sylvia Adzido

Vera: Laura Mikolajczyk

Manolo Costazuela: Brian Nelson

Jesus Costazuela: Patrick Hockberger

Student Production Staff

Stage manager: Laura Pouliot

Assistant technical director: Ken Kolzow

Senior light board operator: Joe Robinson III

Assistant light board operator: Mak Pellegrino

Senior sound board operator: Kevin Sitkowski

Assistant sound board operator: Alicia Rogers

Backstage right manager: Kelli Klees

Backstage left manager: Keith Muenz

Running crew head: Terra Streeter

Props mistresses: Aris Sevilla and Megan Dahl

Production assistance: Sylvia Adzido

Tech Crew

Ken Kolzow, Joe Robinson III, Laura Pouliot, Jon Gorecki, Kevin Sitkowski, Keith Muenz, Eric Pouliot, Mak Pellegrino, Kelli Klees, Peter Ensinger, Chloe Ewer, Terra Streeter, Aris Sevilla, Alicia Rogers

Running Crew

Chloe Ewer, Liz Lear, Peter Ensinger, Danielle Partipilo, Roberto Espinosa, Eric Pouliot, Jon Gorecki, Ajeet Vivekannadan

Construction Crew

Ken Kolzow, Laura Pouliot, Stuart Glassett, Keith Muenz, Kevin Sitkowski, Chloe Ewer, Liz Lear, Megan Dahl, Alicia Rogers, Peter Ensinger, Kelli Klees, Joe Robinson III, Danielle Partipilo, Aris Sevilla, Andrew Uram, Mak Pellegrino, Roberto Espinosa, Eric Pouliot, Jon Gorecki, Terra Streeter, Ajeet Vivekanandan

Production Staff

Director: Gary Smiley

Assistant director: Amy Haga

Technical director: David Calvert

Rehearsal assistance: Bill Mezger

Costumes: Lois Salmonson

Poster design: Nick Gehl and Thomas Ringrose

Production coordinator: Amy Haga

Auditorium manager: Marge Bello