Copperstate Dinner Theater

The Copperstate Dinner Theater at Phoenix Greyhound Park announces the opening of a quartet of comedy - The Odd Couple (male version) and The Odd Couple (female version) Sept 24 through Nov. 21, 2004.

The Odd Couple(s) Felix and Oscar and Florence and Olive prove living together without driving each other crazy knows no gender

The Odd Couple(s) is directed by Copperstate Dinner Theater’s producing director, Peter J. Hill and AriZoni award winning director/choreographer Noel Irick. The Odd Couple (male version) stars Roy Hunt and Terry Gadaire as Oscar and Felix. The Odd Couple (female version) stars Athena Reiss and Kathi Osborne as Florence and Olive. The cast(s) include Cuauhtemoc Aparicio, Scott Connelly, Kathy Donald, Noel Irick, Timothy James, Gerry Loveland, Lisa Martina, Elizabeth Reeves & Carlos Urtubey.

The Odd Couple began as a play written by Neil Simon. It premiered on Broadway in 1965 at the Plymouth Theatre in New York City, starring Walter Matthau as Oscar and Art Carney as Felix. Later in the show’s run, Jack Klugman took over the role of Oscar, which he played until the show ended its Broadway run in 1967. Simon’s inspiration for the play was his brother Danny, who was divorced and was rooming with a divorced friend, to cut expenses and save for alimony. The roommates began to get on each other’s nerves, and Neil told his brother, also a comedy writer, that the premise would make a great play. Danny started to write one, but later gave up and suggested that Neil write it instead.

The Movie

In 1968, the play was made into a movie starring Walter Matthau as Oscar, and Jack Lemmon as Felix. Most of the script from the play was the same, although the setting was expanded: instead of taking place entirely in Oscar’s apartment, some scenes took place at various outside locations.

The TV Show

The TV show began in the fall of 1970, and it was produced by Garry Marshall, with no involvement from Neil Simon. Reportedly, the producers originally wanted to cast Art Carney as Felix and Martin Balsam as Oscar, while ABC wanted Tony Randall and Mickey Rooney. Randall was the first of the pair to be hired - Garry Marshall came to see him and asked him to do the show. Randall didn’t accept the part right away, but eventually Marshall talked him into it. Marshall called Klugman to offer him the part of Oscar. Klugman at first turned the role down because he considered himself a theater actor and did not want to do television. Shortly before production on the show was scheduled to start, he changed his mind. Although the show never made it into the top 25 in the Neilsen ratings, it lasted for five seasons and 114 episodes. The show’s highest rating came in the 1972-1973 season, when it charted at #36.

The Female Version

In the 1980s, Neil Simon also got into the act of remaking The Odd Couple. He wrote a new version of the play which featured female characters in the lead roles. The two main characters were renamed Olive Madison and Florence Unger, and instead of poker, they got together with their friends for a weekly game of trivial pursuit. The British Pigeon Sisters were changed to the Spanish Costazuela Brothers, Manolo and Jesus. “The Odd Couple (Female Version)” premiered on Broadway in 1985, starring Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno, and ran for nearly a year.

The Odd Couple(s) will play at the Copperstate Dinner Theater, 3801 E. Washington inside the Phoenix Greyhound Park. Performances are Friday & Saturday evenings dinner 6:30, curtain 8:00. And Sunday supper shows with dinner 5:30 and curtain 7:00. The female version of the show will play on Friday evenings, while the male version will perform on Saturdays.. Sundays will alternate. The male version will play Sunday, Sept 26, Oct. 10, 24, Nov. 7, and 21. The female version will play Sunday Oct. 3, 17, 31, and Nov. 14.

The ticket price for all performances is only $32.95 per person which includes dinner and the show as well as tax and gratuity. Dinner is a sit-down service, not buffet. With a choice of four delicious entrees: Prime Rib, Grilled Salmon Filet, Teriyaki Chicken Breast, and Vegetable Lasagna. Meals come with side dishes, salad with choice of dressing, rolls and butter. Appetizers, desserts and beverages are extra. A full bar is available. Reservations can be made at (602) 279-3129.