The venerable Newmarket Stage Company presents The Odd Couple – (Female Version) on Stage 426, Newmarket Legion, 707 Srigley St., on May 30, 31, June 1 and June 6, 7, and 8, with two matinees at 2 p.m. June 1 and June 6.
Unger and Madison are at it again, only this time, it is Florence Unger and Olive Madison in this contemporary comic classic — the female version. The stage is set when the two very different friends decide to share an apartment and the hilarity begins.
The Odd Couple – (Female Version), by renowned playwright Neil Simon, is directed by the Newmarket Stage Company’s Teri Hallatt, with theatre veteran Sue Meacock as producer, with permission of Samuel French.
The production stars Jamie Defoe as Florence and Marlo Alcock as Olive and their girlfriends are played by Erin Wrightson as Mickey, Julie Foster as Sylvie, Barb Jones as Renee, and Carol Dowell as Vera. The two particularly funny male interests are handled by Fabian Levy-Hara as Manolo and Rory Rodrigo as Jesus.
“This is one very hilarious play by a famous playwright that is sure to tickle the funny bone of anyone who sees it,” said Meacock. “The cast has been working hard to bring this female classic to life. You won’t be disappointed.”
Defoe, who plays Florence, is excited to take on her first role with the Newmarket Stage Company. Her most recent work includes Sarah in The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trible at The Curtain Club. She thanks her husband, Harry, for never saying no, pizza whenever needed and his undying love.
Alcock has the other female lead, as Olive. After playing Ida in NSC’s The Cemetery Club, she is thrilled to be back “inhabiting the role of Olive.” Past favourite roles include Mrs. Hagan (Parade), Marilla (Anne of Green Gables) and Carmen (Curtains) for which she was honoured with a Thea award.
Wrightson is playing girlfriend Mickey in her second time performing with NSC. She was last seen in Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Her other performances include Albertine in Five Times, Bushladies, Man with a Plastic Sandwich, South Pacific, West Side Story and more. Wrightson said she is thrilled to be working with such a great director, cast and crew.
Foster, who plays girlfriend Sylvie, has been doing theatre for as long as she can remember. From doing homemade plays in the basement of her family home to what she does today, there are no regrets about the amount of time invested in this avenue of her life. Stage managing is her chosen area of expertise, within the confines of theatre, but every once in awhile she gets the opportunity to act.
She moved from Hamilton to Newmarket in 2000, where Theatre on Main and the Newmarket Stage Company became her second home and opened up the world of community theatre.
Another of the girlfriends, who meet weekly at Olive’s apartment, is Jones as Renee. She is pleased to be part of another Newmarket Stage Company production. She has been on stage since she was 17 when she started with a Gilbert and Sullivan group in Scarborough.
Jones has worked with a number of theatre groups in York Region, both on stage and as a producer and director. This is her second show with Newmarket Stage Company and she wishes to thank Terri and Sue and all the rest of the fabulous cast and crew of this hilarious production for their help and patience. Special thanks to her mom and daughters who support her in all her theatrical ventures.
And the final girlfriend is Dowell, playing Vera. As a new addition to Newmarket Stage Company, Carol first helped out with props at the last performance, The Cemetery Club. She is excited to be performing on stage in The Odd Couple and is grateful for the opportunity. She thanks Sue, Teri and the talented cast and crew for their support.
Fabian Levy-Hara, plays Manolo, the Spanish-speaking neighbour upstairs, which adds hilarity to this funny play. This is his first performance with the Newmarket Stage Company and he is happy to work around this enthusiastic crew and cast, and is already in love with the town and its people.
Previous acting credits include Tito Merelli in Lend Me A Tenor (Best Performance in a Supporting Role ACTCO 2017), Stalin in Lenin’s Embalmers (Special Adjudicator Award at the 2014 Ontario Festival, and nominated for Best Performance in a Supporting Role ACTCO 2014), Lou in Tribute (2016), Harry Roat in Wait Until Dark (2016), and Bobby Holland in Office Hours (2017).
Rounding out the cast is Manolo’s brother, Jesus, played with enthusiasm by Rory Rodrigo. “I am really thrilled to get the opportunity to perform with such a wonderful ensemble. Being a local resident of Newmarket since 1992 and having owned and operated several local businesses, I am proud to be a member of the Newmarket Stage Company,” he said.
Rodrigo’s acting career was limited to high school and college. He’s now a father of six and grandfather of six. “I am very excited to give it a shot. I hope the rest of the cast will accept my abilities. I want to thank (director) Terry Hallat and (producer) Sue Meacock for their trust in me. I wish all the very best.”
Tickets, $15, are available by calling the Box Office at 289-500-2114, weekdays between 2 and 4 p.m. With comfortable cabaret seating and refreshments are available. For more information, visit the newly redesigned website, NewmarketStageCo.ca.
— Contributed by Rod Urquhart
Want to win free tickets?
That’s right! Newmarket Today and the Newmarket Stage Company are offering two free tickets to opening night of The Odd Couple – (Female Version), Thursday, May 30, with doors opening at 7:15 p.m. and the show starting at 8 p.m.Can you name the two lead male actors in the film version of the original screening of The Odd Couple by famed playwright Neil Simon? If you can, you have a chance to attend the opening night performance of this hilarious adaption of the Female Version on us.
All you have to do to enter the random draw is e-mail your answer with your name and address to: [email protected]. Entries must be received by May 25. Value of the prize is $30.
