Two new productions worth seeing

TOVA KORNFELD

Neil Simon's Odd Couple at Metro

The little theatrical gem in Marpole, the Metro Theatre, opens its 46th season with Neil Simon's Oscar and Felix, the quintessential "odd couple."

Simon, one of Broadway's most reliable hit makers is best known for his Eugene trilogy of Jewish American life, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound. The Odd Couple got its start on Broadway in 1965 with Art

Carney as Felix, the fastidious, hypochondriac newswriter whose marriage is ending, and Walter Matthau as Oscar, the slovenly, recently divorced sportswriter. The two are thrown together as desperately mismatched roommates. Broadway success, including numerous Tony Awards, led to the 1968 film of the same name, with Matthau continuing his role as Oscar and Jack Lemmon taking on the role of Felix. The well-loved television series ran from 1970-1975, with Tony Randall as Felix and Jack Klugman as Oscar.

All the action on the stage takes place in Oscar's Manhattan apartment, with the curtain rising on the "boys" (Oscar, Murray the cop, Roy the accountant, Speed and Vinnie) playing poker and lamenting the various states of their lives and relationships. Felix enters, a shattered man, just thrown out of his home by his wife. Where will he go? What will he do? The boys, afraid Felix will kill himself, pressure Oscar into taking him in. Oscar grudgingly agrees and then the fun begins, as Felix takes over the housekeeping chores with obsessive-compulsive gusto (he actually disinfects the playing cards), while Oscar's messy world clashes with Felix's need for order. The one-liners fly and no one can write them like Simon. They just keep coming, bang, bang, bang.

Simon recently updated the play with references to cellphones, e-mail, lap top computers and other techno gadgets to add a refreshing new interpretation to this beloved classic. In the local production, director Alison Schamberger guides a talented cast, led by Pat McDermott as Oscar and Mark Lewis as Felix, who both have great comedic timing and deliver their lines with punch. Lewis, in particular, carries the show.

Jewish community member Paul Kloegman as Vinnie nails the Bronx accent of his macho Italian character. Anita Reimer and Lyvia Cohen, as the two Spanish sisters from upstairs, add their spicy feminine presence to counter the testosterone on stage. Randy Thomson as Murray, Ryan Johnson as Speed and Chris Wanjoff as Roy round out the cast. The set design is shabby bachelor décor and provides the perfect backdrop for this witty play.

If you want to go out and just have a good old-fashioned laugh, this production will deliver. The show runs until Sept. 27 at Metro Theatre. More information is available at www.metrotheatre.org or 604-266-7191.

Blackbird puts on Pinter play

Award-winning Blackbird Theatre, which is dedicated to bringing the classics to Vancouver audiences, opens this season with Pinter's Briefs, a collection of Harold Pinter's early one-act plays.

Pinter was born in London in 1930 to a Jewish lower-middle-class family. He is a poet, actor, playwright, director and political activist whose work has garnered countless awards, including the 2005 Nobel Prize for literature.

This production presents the comedic side of Pinter's witty writings by showcasing six quirky plays and the iconic Dumb Waiter, all performed by two actors, Anthony F. Ingram and Simon Webb. The acting is superb, particularly Webb's portrayal of the second gangster in the final act. The plays are comedic sketches and very Monty Python in their content and presentation.

Set on a minimalist stage with the actors ever present, and making their costume changes in the shadows while the sets are quickly changed (kudos to community member stage manager Noa Anatot and her assistant), this production is a treat. Ex-pat Brits will revel in the delightful English accents and dry humor.

Blackbird, in its four-year existence, has managed to win numerous Jessies (local theatre awards) and obtain a well-deserved reputation for excellence in theatre. And this production continues the trend.

Pinter's Briefs plays until Sept. 27 at Presentation House, in North Vancouver, then opens in Vancouver at Studio 16 from Oct. 7-16 and continues at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre the week of Dec. 3. Visit www.blackbirdtheatre.ca for more information.

Tova Kornfeld is a Vancouver freelance writer.

^TOP