ETC to stage "The Odd Couple"
by Sibyl Creasey

Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple," staged by the Edom Civic Theatre, will be presented on Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5, at 7 p.m. at the Edom Community Center. This well known comedy will be directed by Mary Scott of Edom and will be the second production in the theatre's 11th season of "Comedy, Conflicts, Couples and Critics." Reservations are still available and can be made by calling Polly Martin, house manager, at 903-852-6803.

The plot of "The Odd Couple" is familiar to most theatre goers, but each actor puts a different slant on the roles in order to entertain the audience. The premise of two divorced men becoming roommates may not be all that unusual, but hilarious situations are created when one is a complete slob and the other is a complete neat freak.

The all star cast includes Robert Viana of Callender Lake as Oscar, the slob; Skip Walker of Callender Lake as Felix, the neatnik; Jim Morgan from Callender Lake as Murray, the cop; Eddie Pirtle of Murchison as Vinnie, the poker player; Glen Vest of Brownsboro as Speed, a poker player; Terry McBurney of Callender Lake as Roy, the accountant; Lois Arneson of Edom as Gwendolyn, one of the Pigeon sisters; and Linda Parker of Chandler as Cecily, the other Pigeon sister.

The play opens in Oscar's apartment for a regularly scheduled poker night. Felix is late arriving and they soon learn that he and his wife have separated and his whereabouts are unknown. The players fear Felix will harm himself, so when he finally arrives all are on edge.

Things become really hectic and complicated when Oscar and Felix become roommates and their very different personalities begin to clash. The poker players are part of the ensuing "drama" as well as the Pigeon sisters who also live in the apartment building. How things are played out and resolved between Oscar and Felix is fun for everyone including the audience.

The production crew for "The Odd Couple" will include Carole Davis of Edom, assistant director and program chairman; Pat Butler of HIckory Hills, stage manager; Mike Mattox of Van, lights and sound manager; Max Scott of Edom, stage construction and hospitality; Polly Martin of Edom, house manager; Sibyl Creasey of Ben Wheeler, publicity; and Sherry Gasper of Edom, photographer.

For reservations and further information on ECT activities, call Polly Martin at 903- 852-6803.