The Odd Couple at Harrison Hilltop Theatre
The Odd Couple is the story of Oscar and Felix. Oscar is a divorcee and a slob and it’s his apartment that’s the center of the play’s action. Felix is in the early stages of divorce and a neat freak. Oscar invites Felix to move in, setting off the clash of the titans. And by titans, I mean divorcees. Felix’s constant cooking and cleaning continuously get on Oscar’s nerves, much to the audience’s humored delight.
Harrison Hilltop’s production suffers a bit from some awkward pacing and a preference to play characters as sincere rather than funny. Many of the jokes are lost, due to this. That’s not to say the production is bad. It just doesn’t elicit as many laughs as the script calls for.
However, it benefits from Greg O’Neill’s Oscar, who is quite annoying from the start, matching his slobbiness. And, my favorite from this show, J. W. Hertner’s Murray. Hertner doesn’t hold back and understands the humor, playing up the character to a truly funny level.
“The Odd Couple” runs this weekend and next at Harrison Hilltop Theatre in Davenport. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30. You can reserve tickets, which are $15, through the theater’s website - harrisonhilltop.com.
Posted: November 13th, 2008 under Theater.
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