Review: THE ODD COUPLE, THE FEMALE VERSION, Returns to Beit Lessin Theatre

It has been 26 years since Beit Lessin Theatre last presented the female version of the comedy The Odd Couple, one of Neil Simon's most famous plays, and just like every other classic it doesn't matter how times have since changed- this timeless play is still as funny and great as it has always been.

Twenty years after Neil Simon wrote the 1965 play he adapted its female version which tells the story of Florence, a neurotic and neat freak who separates from her husband and moves in with her messy and easygoing friend Olive. Although this starts as an attempt to help one another, it quickly turns out to be a terrible idea.
The play begins as we see their other friends, Vera, Mickey and Sylvie, in a games night of Karaoke and crossword puzzles at Olive's sophisticated yet filthy apartment. In the original female version of the play the girls are playing a Trivia board game, Trivial Pursuit, and even though the main funny trivia lines are kept and new humor is created by the Karaoke songs, something is lost on the way and the same is true for many additional changes made. Neil Simon's female version is as great as the original play, if not better, therefore Beit Lessin's very bold decision to adapt it further more, by Shlomo Moskovitz, may not have been the best thing for this production.

Each of the cast members successfully manages to emphasize their character's personality and differences from the others, but it's the leading ladies who rightfully prove who this play truly revolves around. It's especially clear when from the moment we meet Meggie Azarzer who plays Olive she immediately commands the stage and brings a certain confidence to her role that assures everyone, including the other actors, that this is indeed Olive up there on that stage and not just someone who is trying to be her. She does, at times, yell much more than needed, but given the new adaptation this could come from either her or director Roni Pinkovitch.
The same is true for Talli Oren, who plays Florence, when once she appears the entire play gets a huge energy boost as you can feel that not only do the other actors want to be as energetic as her, but the entire audience feels they're in for a special experience thanks to her. True, she presents way too much physical humor and it's highly exaggerated at times, also presumably a combination of the new adaptation and the direction, but with the masterful humor that Oren brings the excessiveness is forgiven and even forgotten as the laughter takes over.

If you look at the entire production in general it really is a fun play with lots of laughter, a talented and well formed cast, proper music by Ran Bagno, elegant costumes designed by Oren Dar and stylish scenic designed by Ruth Miller and Alona Weinstein. Even during the special curtain call the joy keeps flowing everywhere from the stage, so although the new adaptations such as the ending are a bit disappointing this show sure promises a good-humored and carefree evening for all.

Now playing at the MUSA Eretz Israel Museum in Tel-Aviv.
For tickets and further information visit www.lessin.co.il or call 03-7255333 (Israel).

Photo Credit: Raday Rubinstain.

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