The Catskill Chronicle

Review by Carol Montana

FORESTBURGH, NY (June 12, 2013) – It is truly hard to believe that in its 67-year history, the Forestburgh Playhouse has never seen a production of the Neil Simon classic that opens their 2013 season.

After all, “The Odd Couple” premiered on Broadway in 1965 and surely must be one of the most produced plays in the history of theatre.

Well, that missing link was filled, and wonderfully so, on Tuesday, June 11, as Forestburgh opened its season with the play that has become synonymous with the Neil Simon legacy.

And even though the play is named “The Odd Couple,” it features the delightful duo of Norman Duttweiler and Kevin Confoy.

Duttweiller is, of course, the Forestburgh producer, and has also delighted audiences for many year in plays like “La Cage Aux Folles,” “Doubt,” “Murder Among Friends” and “FDR,” to name but a small sampling. Playhouse favorite Confoy, appeared last year in “Barefoot in the Park,” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” as well as in “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Chorus Line” some years back.

It all begins at a poker game among friends where obsessive-compulsive Felix Unger (Confoy) is late, an unheard of circumstance. As it turns out, his wife has kicked him out and when he finally shows up at the apartment of Oscar Madison (Duttweiler), Felix is distraught, dismayed and disheveled, worrying his friends that he might harm himself. (Talk of suicide has never been so funny.)

Oscar happens to be a slob of the highest order, and we know he realizes that there may be consequences, but offers his dear friend refuge nonetheless. This is not a match made in heaven. And the ensuing weeks are enough to drive Felix and Oscar crazy, and all their friends, too. But their insanity results in gales of laughter for the audience.

Duttweiler is wonderful as the loud and boisterous Oscar Madison, who is very comfortable with his own slovenliness and easy-going style. His frustration at having to live with an OCD neat-freak is palpable, and the audience waits for the inevitable explosion. Duttweiler gives it his all in his larger-than-life portrayal of one of the most famous slobs in theatrical history.

Madison’s diametric friend, Felix Ungar, is personified by Kevin Confoy – in his face, in his body, in his every move and hysterical contortion as he tidies up the apartment, clears his clogged ears, and cleans up after the poker buddies. It’s hard to imagine a better performance.

The poker playing friends of Felix and Oscar are a true ensemble and well-oiled machine. Harold Tighe as Speed, Gerald Butler as Murray the Cop, Steve Davis as Roy, and Paul Ciliberto as Vinnie are clearly having a blast onstage with Simon’s zingers and one-liners. Their banter is natural and results in some of the funniest moments in the show.

The delightfully ditzy Pigeon sisters are played by Ellen Pavloff (Cecily) and Sandy Stalter (Gwendolyn), with giggly enthusiasm and proper British charm.

Under the artistic supervision of Ron Nash, the entire cast works with precise comic timing and fluidity.

Just a short note to costume designer Gretchen Halle: Oscar looks way too neat. His brand-new-looking, white baseball jersey could have benefited from a coffee stain or two, some spaghetti sauce, a spilled drop of booze … to go along with what we know is his devil-may-care attitude about life.

“The Odd Couple” continues at the Forestburgh Playhouse now through June 16. There is also a buffet dinner and the ever-popular cabaret to entertain you. For times, directions, ticket prices and reservations, visit www.fbplayhouse.org or call the box office at 845-794-1194.