Cedar High School is set to perform not one, but two versions of “The Odd Couple.” The original play by Neil Simon featured two recently divorced men trying to figure out the world without their wives. The show premiered on Broadway in 1965 and was followed by a movie and television series.
The second version of “The Odd Couple” was revised by Neil Simon to fit two female characters and the scene was updated to the 1980s as the play premiered on Broadway in 1985. This version was successful on Broadway; however, it is lesser known and has never aired on TV.
Zac Trotter, the drama teacher at CHS and director of the plays, said he decided to do both versions in order to create more opportunities for students.
“If we had done a bigger show, there might have been more characters, but there would have been less lines for them,” Trotter said. “This way, a lot of people have a lot of lines, and it’s also fun to look at the differences of the way genders handle things and how life is in different time periods.”
As well as doing both plays, some characters have been reinvented. Trotter says he encourages all students to try out for any role, regardless of gender or other qualifications and the best actor will get the role.
“The Odd Couple” female version runs Nov. 8, 10 and 11 at 7 p.m. and the male version runs Nov. 9 and 13 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7 and the CHS auditorium is located straight north from the main entrance. CHS is located at 703 W. 600 South.
Story by
Jenna Chapman
accent@suunews.com
