STARTING THE SEASON OFF WITH A GOOD LAUGH

Pat Koskinen

The Birdcage Theatre has opened its new season with a contemporary, classic comedy, THE ODD COUPLE, by Neil Simon. The play was followed by a successful film and television series, so it is familiar to many and seeing the play will be an outrageously funny, notstalgic experience. To those who are totally unfamiliar with THE ODD COUPLE, a new delight awaits. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates, one neat, prissy and uptight and the other an easygoing slob. In the original play, the roommates were male. Simon revised THE ODD COUPLE for a female cast. It was titled THE FEMALE ODD COUPLE and was based on the same story line and same lead characters, called Florence Ungar and Olive Madison. The boys poker games became Trivial Pursuit games. The Pigeon sisters, upstair neighbors, became the Costazuela brothers, Manolo and Jesus. This is the version the Birdcage is presenting.

Olive Madison (Marchia Ryborg) is a divorced radio sports commentator who hosts a Trivial Pursuit gathering with five of her best friends on a regular basis. When the play begins, the women are playing a warm-up game and becoming worried about their friend Florence Unger ( Cindi Gess), who is very late. Four of the gals, Sylvie (Ruby Thomas), Renee (Rachel Mc Cullough), Mickey (Sarah Pierce) and Vera ( Carol Falcon) are all making small talk while alternating between frustration and fear for their friend, who is never late. Sidney, Florence’s husband, phones and tellls them that Flo has left her home after Sidney asked her for a divorce and is apparently wandering the streets. When Florence arrives, she is non-communicative, until the ladies drag the truth about her marital problems out of her. Florence is a contender for a Martha Stewart Homemaking Award while Olive is the queen of grunge.

After the others leave, Olive, concerned for her welfare, foolishly asks Flo to move in with her. Disagreements escalate and within days, the two women who represent the opposite ends of the cleanliness spectrum are preparing for the final countdown. Hoping to avoid the escalating battle, Olive suggests that they get off each other’s nerves by developing romantic interests. She reveals to Flo that there are two really good looking Spanish brothers, Jesus ( Terry Bartlett) and Manolo ( Bill Faocon) Costazuela, who live on another floor in the same apartment building, and suggests that they invite them down for dinner and a drink. Flo is still hung up on her 5’3”, balding, cowboy boots-wearing husband, Sidney, and doesn’t think this is a good idea. Florence introduces herself as Mrs.Unger to the two handsome Spanish gentlemen and sets up a barrier against any possible romantic involvement with either of the guests. Olive on the other hand is hoping, no, planning, for a romantic encounter! And so the battles continues.

Raquelana and Raquel Pina, the mother daughter team who directed the play, made it a sensational success from the beginning by gathering a superb cast. The genius of Simon’s play is witty diaglogue. That what‘s makes his play so funny. To work, the dialogue requires perfect timing and real chemistry between the characters who are verbally sparing. Marica Ryborg (Olive and Cindi Gess (Florence Ungar) have that timing and that chemistry. Also, Ryborg plays Olive with the physical energy she requires and Cindi Gess uses physical mannerisms, such as fluttering hands to make Florence even more irritating. Terry Bartlett, Bill Facon and Cindi Gess provide a high point to the production when Florence is left to entertain the Costazuela brothers when they arrive as dinner guests. The three have that timing and chemistry and make Simon’s dialogue even funnier. Carol Facon shines as friend Vera with her wonderful facial experssions. Sarah Bartlett is a perfect foil for Olive as her police officer friend. Ruby Thomas’s great voice works well for her to speak as the common sense, practical friend, Sylvie. Rachel Mc Cilloch presents Renee as empathy personified.

This is one of the best comedies ever written and the Birdcage has done it well. Go and laugh out loud for an entire evening.

THE ODD COUPLE runs from September 18 until October 4. Tickets are $10 ($5 for pre-teens). Advance tickets are available at the Discount Bookstore, 1515 Myers in Oroville. Birdcage Theatre is located at 1740 Bird St. in downtown Oroville. Performances are at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday evenings, and 2 p.m. Sunday afternoons. The audience may meet and mingle with the actors (and directors) after every performance, according to Birdcage tradition. Call the theatre at (530) 533-BIRD (2473) for information about season tickets, or other questions. Also visit the Web site at: www.birdcagetheatre.net.