Just shy of sixty years young, Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple returns in a brightly polished, perfectly cast, utterly hilarious revival. 

A true Broadway classic, the hit 1965 comedy spawned not just a Hollywood movie but also a much loved television series. Testament to the genius of Simon’s writing, the comedy has retained plenty of zesty vitality, especially as performed by this terrific cast.

The relatively rare play to receive a commercial tour, The Odd Couple rests upon the stage reunion of Shane Jacobson and Todd McKenney, who stole the show as another decidedly odd couple in the recent Australian tour of Hairspray. Proving that lightning can strike twice, the pair delivers again, with Jacobson’s careless, overgrown slob Oscar deftly balanced by McKenney’s neurotic neat freak Felix. 

Director Mark Kilmurry whips up chemistry to spare from the full cast of eight, with the four fellow poker buddies and the delectably daffy Pigeon sisters setting off sparks with each other as though the play has been running for weeks already. While New York accents are not quite on point, characterisations are entertainingly vivid. Physical and verbal comedy are at a premium, with Kilmurry showing full trust in Simon’s canny writing and timeless characters to wonderful effect.

The mid-1960s are in full swing in Justin Nardella’s handsome, spacious set, peppered with myriad authentic period props. Costume designer Billy Roache dresses the male characters in casual, natural outfits, saving the theatrical flair for the fabulously attired Pigeon sisters. The finishing touch on the sisters’ looks are the delectable wigs, designed by Michele Skeete. 

With the television series having been aired in high rotation on repeat in the 1970s and ‘80s, audience members of a certain vintage will be well acquainted with the central tension of The Odd Couple. Despite this familiarity, Jacobson and McKenney successfully make the roles their own, with their performances enhanced by their well honed working relationship.

Jacobson captures the slovenly nature of Oscar without needing to exaggerate his appearance as a slob. He delivers a finely calibrated slow boil as Oscar’s frustration simmers along, gradually releasing pent up anger without ever completely exploding. 

McKenney amusingly portrays Felix’s neuroses and ticks with expertly realised physicalisation. He successfully portrays Felix as devotedly domesticated without ever making him seem weak or less masculine. 

The laughs necessarily slow when the strain between the pair reaches a peak, with the somewhat more dramatic moments being fully effective thanks to audience engagement with the off-kilter relationship by this point. In his final touch of genius, Simon delivers an ending that is entirely satisfactory without being pat or saccharine. 

Laurence Coy (Speed), Anthony Taufa (Murray), John Batchelor (Roy), and Jamie Oxenbould (Vinnie) each infuse their character with distinctive quirks and foibles. 

Lucy Durack (Cecily) and Penny McNamee (Gwendolyn) lift the comic energy even further with their arrival after interval, at which point Oscar has invited the Pigeon sisters from upstairs to dinner and drinks. Fully owning the bubbly vapidity of their characters, Durack and McNamee firmly defy dismissal of the sisters as sexist stereotypes, giving them a palpable joy and warmth that completely transcends mere objectification. 

The perfect winter warmer, The Odd Couple is entertainment for entertainment’s sake with just a touch of social commentary thrown in for good measure. 

The Odd Couple plays at Comedy Theatre, Melbourne until 23 June 2024. For tickets, click here. 

The Odd Couple plays at Theatre Royal, Sydney from 27 June 2024. For tickets, click here. 

Photos: Pia Johnson