The Whitefish Theatre Company will stage Neil Simon’s classic comedy, “The Odd Couple,” offering audiences a hilarious look at mismatched roommates beginning Feb. 19. The play explores the challenges and humor arising when two very different men attempt to share a life after divorce.
A Timeless Comedy for a Changing Era
“The Odd Couple” runs Feb. 19-22 and 26-28 at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish, Montana.
- Performances begin with a sneak preview on Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
- Regular showtimes are 7:30 p.m., with a 4 p.m. matinee on Feb. 22.
- Tickets range from $10 to $25, depending on age and performance.
- The play stars Malcolm Sharbutt and Jesse Nelson as the titular odd couple.
Hailed as one of the greatest comedies ever written, “The Odd Couple” centers on Oscar Madison, a slovenly sportswriter, and Felix Unger, a compulsively neat news writer. After both find themselves newly single, they reluctantly agree to cohabitate, leading to a cascade of comedic clashes. The play, set in a small New York City apartment, has been called “wildly, irresistibly, incredibly and continuously funny.”
Reflecting a Shifting Social Landscape
Director Kim Krueger notes the play’s resonance with the social changes of the 1960s. “Neil Simon gave us a good one with this show,” Krueger said. “The 1950s was the era of the ‘ideal’ American Dream with a breadwinning father, stay-at-home mother, nuclear family and suburban hope. The 1970s was post-Vietnam war, women where continuing to enter the work force, divorce becoming increasingly common and free-range children. Slap in the middle was 1965 when this play takes place…what a great era for a comedy about male friendship!”
The cast features Malcolm Sharbutt as Oscar, Jesse Nelson as Felix, Matt Strool as Speed, Wes Hart as Murray, Andy Kriss as Roy, Tony Nelson as Vinnie, Laura Abernethy as Gwendolyn, and Alex Lamers as Cecily.
Ticket Information and Show Details
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $10 for students. A sneak preview performance on Feb. 19 offers tickets at $12 for adults and $10 for students, available only at the box office. All other tickets can be purchased online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org, at the Box Office located at 1 Central Avenue in Whitefish, or by calling 862-5371. The Box Office is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and one hour before each performance.
“I’d like to thank the crew and this talented cast for their hard work and all the laughs!,” Krueger said.
