By Karen Wolitzer
This transgendered "Odd Couple" first opened on Broadway, in 1985, starring Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno. Now, you can see it at Westbury Music Fair, April 12 - 14, starring Barbara Eden (TV's Jeannie) and talented actress Rita McKenzie. It's hard to imagine a woman as neurotic as Felix, or as slovenly as Oscar, but Barbara Eden, who has been touring as Florence for the past few months says, "Florence is even a little more neurotic than Felix and Olive is every bit as sloppy as Oscar."Also in the cast are Larry Thomas (who played "The Soup Nazi" on "Seinfeld"), Georgia Engle (Who's best known as Georgette, from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"), and David Castro, Shirley Prestia, Elizabeth Alley and Mary Pat Gleason.The story is basically the same as the original play, with many of the best jokes still in tact and every bit as funny. Neil Simon just reworked Oscar and Felix to make them think and act like women. The show begins with the girls' weekly Trivial Pursuit Game (instead of the original poker game). All fun is stopped when neurotic Florence arrives announcing that her husband has deserted her. From there the laughs just don't stop.The adorable Pigeon sisters, who lived upstairs, have become the Costazuela brothers-handsome Spaniards, who like to show off their chest hair. When Olive sets up a blind date, for Florence and herself, with the libidinous Latinos, Florence immediately puts an end to any possibility of romance-leading to unrest between the roommates. The show is two and a half hours of magic. Even those who have seen the play before will love this new, wonderful version. The chemistry between Eden and McKenzie is perfect. "She's a very good actress and a dear friend," says Eden about her costar. "We giggle and laugh together." It was actually McKenzie's idea to tour in "The Odd Couple." "She and her husband came to me with the idea," says Eden. "We had worked together in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." I had never seen the all-female version of "The Odd Couple," but it sounded like fun. I read the script and thought it was very funny. Neil Simon is a genius," she says."We've been touring since January first, and it does get exhausting, but I love it. I love hearing the audience's response--making them laugh. I don't think any actor could ask for more than that. And I enjoy working at Westbury Music Fair. I've performed there many, many times. The last time I was there was with Wayne Rogers. We did "Same Time Next Year." Before that I did "Woman of the Year," "The Sound of Music," "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," at Westbury.If you go to see the show, you're sure to leave with a smile on your face. At the very end, after everyone has taken their bows, Barbara folds her arms-a la Jeannie-and blinks the lights out. How cute is that!
