Order Meets Chaos in The Odd Couple

The cast of The Odd Couple, Female Version during a dress rehearsal. (Elaine Zhang/The Santa Clara)

Santa Clara University’s Theater and Dance Department presented a production of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” at the Louis B. Mayer Theatre for two weekends from Nov. 7 to Nov. 16. Directed by Aldo Billingslea and Christian Barnard ’26, the play has both a male and female version, where the casts rotate every other performance.

Opening night began with the male cast, the original 1965 version written by Neil Simon. “The two versions presented a uniquely difficult obstacle logistically,” said director Christian Barnard ’26. “We had the same time we would normally have for a single show, so it necessitated using two rehearsal spaces, two directors and two schedules that accounted for cross-cast conflicts and our cast members who were in both versions.”

“I directed the female version at Santa Clara some years ago, and it was a fun challenge, but doing both the male and female versions is a challenge that was only met because we had such a talented student ready to direct a full production on their own,” says director Aldo Billingslea, a theater professor. 

The Odd Couple follows the complicated friendship between two recently divorced men, Oscar Madison and Felix Unger, as they attempt to live together in a New York City apartment.

The play opens at the friend group’s poker night in Oscar’s messy apartment. The set immediately establishes Oscar’s character, with smoke in the air, clothes on the floor and food boxes scattered on the table. After Felix does not show up to the poker night for multiple hours, the group begins to ponder and worry. They later discover that Felix’s wife, Frances, ended their marriage, and he is distressed.

These two characters are polar opposites. Madison is a carefree writer whose apartment is constantly messy, whereas Unger is a neat freak who has recently gotten divorced. While yearning for his now ex-wife, Unger has depressive thoughts of suicide. Oscar sees his friend in shambles and graciously offers him a space to live. The second he moves in, the apartment shines and smells of bleach cleaner. Their contrasting personalities quickly turn their daily routine into chaos and bickering.

Felix’s obsession with cleaning and Oscar’s laid-back, messy lifestyle turn minor inconveniences into chaotic disasters. The tension rises, and their friendship is put to the test. Finally, a disastrous double date with their neighbors allows them to realize that they may not be compatible roommates.

“The experience playing Felix was challenging, but I was able to work with a tremendous team,” said Sherman Sherman ’27, who played the neat-freak. “My favorite part has got to be character work, with my colleagues. You get to see new sides of people, and also realize the importance of small details, like movement and tone, when trying to present characters as real living people, rather than robots that parrot lines from the script.”

Beneath the outer layer of humor and comedy, Neil Simon also explores loneliness, friendship and the human need for companionship. At the end, both men—or women, depending on the cast—learn to appreciate their differences and part ways.

Other than the literal meaning of the story based on the script that Neil Simon wrote, Santa Clara University’s adaptation of the play also included intriguing lighting, sound, costume and set design. 

The lighting is calm and simple, as it is set in a New York City apartment for the entire duration of the play. The sound is used intentionally, with characters picking up the ringing telephone. Costume choices are also significant, allowing the audience to understand the personality and vibe of each character. Finally, the set design is well thought out, with vibrant walls and a collection of props that show details of Oscar’s apartment. Each element is crucial to the final result of the production on the mainstage.

Overall, Santa Clara University’s version of “The Odd Couple” succeeded in bringing both humor and heart. The attention to detail based on the original 1960s play helped immerse the audience in the scene. 

The final shows will take place at 2 p.m. on Nov. 15 and 16, with the female version performed on both days and the final male version on Nov. 15

Don’t miss it! Tickets can be found here.