Blue Ridge Community Theater's first play of the 2007 MAIN STAGE season is The Odd Couple (Female Version), by Neil Simon. A remake of Neil Simon's long-running Broadway comedy, The Odd Couple centers around two divorced woman who live together, but can't stand each other's habits. Simon himself updated the script in the mid '80s to an all female version starring Rita Moreno and Sally Struthers in the Madison/Unger roles.
Neil Simon's famous update of his contemporary classic starts with a group of women friends playing their regular game of Trivial Pursuit. This week, the coterie is meeting at the apartment of Olive Madison, Shannon Fleeman, a divorcee who freely admits to being a slob: "I leave a mess when I read a book." Late to arrive is Florence Unger, Dehila Davenport, a stickler for detail who would try the patience of a saint, and who has unfortunately just become separated from her husband. As life would have it, the slob and the fuss-budget decide to room together -- with hilarious results!
Within days, Florence 's obsessive habits start taking their toll on Olive and their friends. The only remedy Olive can think of (a pair of brothers from Barcelona , Michael Fleeman and Ray Piggot) disastrously backfires, and the two women are forced to agree on one thing -- even the best of friends sometimes make the worst of roommates.
Olive Madison - Shannon Fleeman
Florence Unger - Delilah Davenport
Mickey - Patti Vick Lee
Vera - Kay Thomas
Renee - Eileen Avery Kerr
Sylvie - Sonia Smith
Manolo Costazuela - Ray Pigott
Jesus Costazuela - Mike Fleeman
BEHIND THE SCENES
Directors - Mike Lacy & Tina Maslankowski
Production Manager - Tina Maslankowski
Stage Manager - Daniel Parrish
Stage Crew - Melanie Rymer, Elizabeth Hornsby
Technical Director/Light and Sound Design - Lee Maslankowski
Box Office - Elizabeth Hunt
Costumes - The Cast
Props - Daniel Parrish, Tina Maslankowski, Pat Baker
Publicity - Patricia Webb, Mike Lacy
Set Design - Tina Maslankowski, Mike Lacy, Joe Webb, Ted McWilliams
Special Set Pieces - Ted McWilliams
Design Consultant - Steve Martin
Playbill - Steffen Smith, Joe Webb, Jackie Smith
Cover/Poster Art & Design - Steve Martin
Set Construction - Joe Webb, Bill Marsh, George Southmayd, Chuck Gorder, Frank Moore, Bill Jefferson, Alan Buchanan, Bob Jennus
Cabinetmakers - Ted Mcwilliams (Master), Bill Jefferson, Albert Kraft
Set Painting - Beth Inman, Tina Maslsankowski, Mike Lacy
Fundraising - Joe Webb, Kelly Hornsby, Lynda Thompson
SPECIAL THANKS TO: all of our volunteers who have so generously shared their time and talents and to Mike Lacy for the set furniture, Lynn Pigott for the Cast Party, Megan Gribble for her production help, and the City of Blue Ridge Police Department.
the odd couple (female version)
by Neil Simon
FEBRUARY 23rd - MARCH 18th