There
are few shows totally appropriately named, but if you consider the two
leading performers you see what I mean. The Odd couple, Bill
Bailey, as Oscar Madison the scruffy, devil may care man about town,
prevents Alan Davies, as Felix Ungar, from committing suicide little
realising he is getting a house mate. His flat is transformed from being the ideal
tip of a bachelor-pad
to a pristine show house in a matter of weeks, reflecting the
contrasts in characters extremely well.
The
show is in four small segments, the opening scene introduces Oscar
and four of the usual card playing reprobates, Ian Coppinger as
Vinnie, Dave Johns as as Murray, Phil Nichol as Speed and Owen
O'Neill as Roy, surrounded by filth with a fridge and air
conditioning that doesn't work they all complain about something.
Oscar is strangely worried about the absence of Felix, after all
he has previously been locked in a loo for 24 hours. Everyone's
concern is heightened by Felix's wife phoning to ask if he is
there and tell them they are splitting up. Felix appears and they
talk him out of committing suicide. After they move in together
the other card players complain about the massive changes and promise
not to return until some semblance of normality is
reached.
Oscar
invites Cecily and Gwendolyn Pigeon out for a meal in the hope of
.... Felix decides to
save money by cooking at home, Katherine Jakeways as Cecily and
Lizzie Roper as Gwendolyn actually like Felix and although the
meal is an utter disaster, fall for his charms.
One
comment I heard before seeing the show was that Alan Davies's hair
is just so out of keeping he couldn't play the part of Felix as
there are several references to his hair, however, it is not as out of
place as it might seem.
The
director Guy Masterson is a particular favourite of mine, his name
associated with any show is a guarantee of top class quality. Guy
works his performers hard, yet asks only of them what he would
expect to do himself.
Katy
Tuxfords set design is interesting and clever, sadly not obvious
to about 1/3 of the audience because of the abominable sight lines
of the venue.
The
last two Fringe shows by Assembly Theatre and Marshall Cordell
were '12 Angry Men' and 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' I cant
wait to see what they will bring to Edinburgh in 2006!!
****
I
thoroughly enjoyed the show but total enjoyment was marred by the
poor sight lines, if it wasn't by the four giant pillars, it was a bar
round the inner area of the stalls and the front rows of the
balcony.
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