Publication Name: Sandusky Register
Publication Date: 3/17/06
Publication Section: A
Director- 'Odd Couple' worth ticket
Status: Web Export
n No one yet asked for money back guarantee for show.
By BENJAMIN ROODE
benjaminroode@sanduskyregister.com
BELLEVUE
Meticulous Felix and his slobbish roommate Olive are at the center of a money-back guarantee at the Bellevue Society for the Arts' production of "The Odd Couple."
That's right, Olive, not Oscar.
A man and woman grace the stage in Neil Simon's classic story of diametrically opposed roommates this weekend at the Bellevue Society for the Arts. The play has been portrayed by two men and two women, from a later Simon rendition, but probably not by mixed genders, said director John Foisy. The production doesn't know for sure if a mixed-gender cast has performed before.
One man and one woman give this version more opportunities to improvise and up the laugh-factor, Foisy said.
"I think it does take it up a bit," Foisy said. "You're just always given the premise that has been portrayed for so many years. To then take mixed genders and do a twist on that, I think it adds to the comedic value."
Foisy and BSA president John Meyers decided to offer a money-back guarantee for the show after seeing several early rehearsals, Meyers said. The first weekend results confirmed their suspicions.
"It's a really funny play to start with," he said. "People were coming out wiping their eyes, they were crying so hard."
Meyers reminds show-goers of the guarantee before each show and stands at the theater exit at the end for anyone who wants their money back, he said. In two shows, no one has.
It was obvious from the beginning no one would take the production up on its offer, Foisy said.
"The risk was very modest," he said.
"It's just a very entertaining couple of hours.
"It must be as good as we think or we wouldn't offer it."
Jimy Foreman stars as Felix and Bellevue native Cindy Franks plays Olive/Oscar.
If you go
The Bellevue Society for the Arts presents "The Odd Couple" dinner and show.
Today: 6 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. curtain. Dinner choice of seafood alfredo or corned beef and cabbage.
Saturday: 6 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. curtain. Dinner of chicken alfredo.
Dinner and show: $20 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and $16 for students.
Show only: $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and $6 for students.
Tables of eight: $150.
Cash bar available.
For information, call the BSA at 419-484-2787.
