Director's Note

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        Many people familiarized themselves with the New York apartment of Oscar Madison and Felix Unger during the 1970's run of the television show.  Fewer people know, however that in 1985 Neil Simon's popular duo reappeared on Broadway.  This time though, as Olive Madison and Florence Unger.  The female version of The Odd Couple combines the same basic situation as the original with a feminine twist.  Don't worry.  the show still asks the same question, "Can two divorced women share an apartment without driving each other crazy?"

    Of course not!  The more important question to ask is, "Can two divorced women share an apartment, drive each other crazy, and still remain friends in the end?"  Of course they can!  Underneath all of Neil Simon's well known humor, friendship is really what The Odd Couple is all about.  Good friends understand the quarks of each other, however annoying they might be.  Grant Olive and Florence take their quarks to the extreme, which is where the comedy lies, but the situation relates to everyone.  Friendship is not just about getting together every Friday night to play Trivial Pursuit.  It is about supporting each other through whatever life hands out.  Olive and Florence have an eclectic group of friends who may seem sarcastic and condescending at times but would do anything to prevent each other from jumping out a window.

    This show reminds me how lucky I am to have friends and family who support me in whatever I do.  I hope that the audience understands how lucky they are as well.  Or maybe this show will inspire the audience to talk to a friend they haven't seen in a while, maybe both.  Whatever the reaction may be after the show, I hope that during the show the audience will laugh along with the characters as the struggle through Sports and Leisure, Science and Nature, Entertainment, and Spanish 101.  After all, theater is meant to both entertain and affect.