Oscar and Felix Get a Modern Update in Oddly Familiar Comedy from The Rep

A 20th century comedy masterpiece gets rebooted for the new millennium with OSCAR AND FELIX: A NEW LOOK AT THE ODD COUPLE, a modern take on Neil Simon's 1965 classic, opening at Adelaide's Arts Theatre on September 1.

Those who love the original "Odd Couple" will laugh all over again at the classic characters in an all-new setting, re-written by Simon himself in 2002.

The set up is oddly familiar: New York buddies Oscar Madison (Peter Rossi) and Felix Unger (Patrick Gibson) find themselves sharing an apartment after Felix's wife kicks him out of home. They're young, single, and free to have their mates over for poker nights whenever they want - plus there are two sexy Spanish sisters in the apartment upstairs.

It should be domestic bliss, but there's just one problem: Oscar is a loudmouth slob, and Felix is a fussy neat-freak.

While slovenly Oscar prefers a laid back life filled with mess and uncertainty, neurotic Felix - "the only man in the world with clenched hair" - is happiest with a vacuum cleaner in hand, and something to fret about. It soon becomes clear Felix is the housemate from hell: but can their friendship survive, or will his finicky ways finally irritate Oscar to death?

Premiering on Broadway in 1965, "The Odd Couple" was an instant smash, winning multiple Tony Awards and spawning the hit 1968 film starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, as well as a popular TV series.

After a 1986 rewrite that saw The Odd Couple recast with all women, OSCAR AND FELIX is Simon's second reinvention of the original play which sees the characters deal with their relationship issues in a present day context, an idea which led to another TV sitcom adaptation in 2015 starring Friends actor Matthew Perry.

Director Brian Knott says fans of the original play and movie will find many new things to love in this modern version.

"If you love The Odd Couple, you will absolutely love Oscar and Felix," he says.

"Even if you're new to the show, you'll have sore cheeks from laughing. This play is straight out, wall-to-wall laughs, with sarcasm laid on with a trowel.

"There is no deep message here, no moral, no pesky 'make you think' moments. This is just a night of pure, solid comedy."

Starring in a talented young cast for The Rep are Peter Rossi and Patrick Gibson in the title roles, Jamie King, Rob Donnamarra, Cameron Twiss and Jay Marcuso as their roustabout poker-playing mates, and Megan Langford and Carole Lawton as the Costazuela sisters.

Bursting with snappy one-liners, wry observations on life, love and friendship and lots of physical humour, OSCAR AND FELIX is a new comedy classic from one of the masters of the genre.

OSCAR AND FELIX: A NEW LOOK AT THE ODD COUPLE runs in a limited season of just eight performances at The Arts Theatre, 53 Angas St Adelaide, from September 1 to 10, with all tickets $22 or less.

Tickets: Book at adelaiderep.com or call 8212 5777

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