The Odd Couple Opens at YLT

Neil Simon's classic comedy hit, The Odd Couple, is truly a popular cultural phenomenon in all its forms. The production ran on Broadway from 1965- 1967, was adapted to a successful film in 1968, and debuted as a television series in 1970. It was the winner of several awards including the Tony for Best Play. YLT's live theatre production of The Odd Couple opens January 13, 2012, in the theatre's Bert Smith Black Box Studio.

While not all pain is funny, great humor can derive from pain, and that's what makes this script achingly funny. The show's opening scene depicts a group of men assembled for their regular game of cards in the apartment of divorced, messy sportswriter Oscar Madison. Felix Unger who has just been separated from his wife is late to arrive. He is fastidious, depressed, and seems suicidal. The clean-freak and the ultraslob--one divorced and one estranged and neither quite sure why their marriages fell apart--move in together to save money for alimony and suddenly discover they're having the same conflicts and fights they had in their marriages.

YLT's production is directed by Wayne Mundis who was drawn to the show because of Neil Simon. "I have acted in Neil Simon plays before," explains Mundis, "but this is the first time directing one. This show is just hilarious." Mundis directs a local cast of 8 actors bringing Simon's characters to life, including Thomas A. DiMaggio as Oscar Madison, a part he has wanted to play his whole life; Patrick Casey as Felix Unger; Joel Persing as Murray the Cop, reprising the role from a college production; Paul Oakes, new to the YLT stage, as Speed; Fred Zuercher, who has had a long absence from theatre, returns to the YLT stage as Roy; James Kirk as Vinnie; Andrea Stephenson as Cecily; and Lisa Gildea as Gwendolyn. "This is such an enjoyable show," says Mundis. "But there are some very tender moments, too."

The Odd Couple as serious as life, and accordingly, as funny, is sponsored by CGA Law, media sponsor flipsidepa.com, and runs January 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and January 15 and 22 at 3:00 p.m. Adult tickets are $23, seniors are $21, students are $18, children are $10. Tickets can be purchased at www.ylt.org or 854-5715, from 11 - 5 weekdays.

York Little Theatre, now enjoying its 79th season of shows, is a nonprofit community theatre which values and nurtures the irreplaceable role of the arts and is dedicated to engaging and enriching its entire, diverse community in the dramatic arts through a broad range of professionally directed, entertaining, stimulating, and sometimes provocative performances.

York Little Theatre is located at 27 South Belmont Street, York PA, just south of Market Street at the intersection of I83.