By Susan Lin
Because scripts are often modified for various reasons, Dennehy says this means it's probably fine that he added about 40 lines to the female version of "The Odd Couple," a play he is directing for USA Productions of Hofstra University. The show is playing weekends until Jan. 27 at the Emily and Jerry Spiegel Theater at the university.
The female version of "The Odd Couple" is Neil Simon's remake of his own play of 1965 by the same title. But this time, in 1985, rather than all-male characters, they are all women. And they are gathered not for a poker game, but for Trivial Pursuit.
Dennehy added some lines from the original play that Simon edited out in writing the female version. "I think when he was editing the original version, [Simon] took the opportunity to do an economical revision revision of the first play," said Dennehy, pointing out that the original "The Odd Couple" was written in three acts, whereas the female version was done in two.
"For some reason, he cut them. I don't know why," Dennehy, 55, said. "I put some of them back because they were some of my favorite lines," he added.
One of the scenes Dennehy personally adapted from the male version of "The Odd Couple" involves Murray the Cop, who becomes Mickey the Cop in the female version at Hofstra.
In the play, the characters Olive Madison and Florence Unger are best friends, who recently separated from their husbands. Olive, a slob by nature, and Florence, who is obsessive-compulsive, somehow end up as roommates.
During the evening of the play, Olive and Florence get into one of their numerous arguments, and Olive ends up throwing linguini on the wall. Soon after, Mickey the Cop walks in the kitchen and says, "Hey, Olive, did you know there's spaghetti all over your kitchen wall?"
Olive, mimicking something Florence said earlier in the fight, says, "It's not spaghetti, it's linguini!"
"Oh, I thought it was spaghetti," says Mickey.
Dennehy admits that by adding scenes from the 1965 "The Odd Couple" he might have "put a male spin" on the female version. "But I think it helps the play a little bit," said Dennehy.
As a staff director and one of the founders of USA Productions at Hofstra, Dennehy also has a part in deciding which plays the organization would stage for the year. Dennehy, though, wasn't the person who suggested the female version of "The Odd Couple."
"It wasn't basically my idea. I wasn't against it, but ... there were other shows I would have preferred to do, but now that I'm doing it, I'm glad that I'm doing it," said Dennehy. "I guess I would have preferred the male version, only because that was the first one," the director added.
Candice Gold, who is playing the role of Vera, a mutual friend of Olive and Florence, said she also might have preferred the original version over the 1985 revision of "The Odd Couple."
"I guess we're all so familiar with the male version, but this one is popular in its own right," said Gold, 56, who lives in East Meadow.
Gold said her favorite role of all time was as the character Cora Clark in a staging of Noel Coward's "Waiting in the Wings" at the Levittown Library.
"It was probably my most favorite play and my most favorite part," said Gold.
"[The play] was about the cycle of life, and takes place in a senior citizens' home for retired actresses. It was these elderly women who found themselves very poor, and how they spent the last years of their lives. I think it was a beautiful play," said Gold.
Gold auditioned for Hofstra's "The Odd Couple" because she enjoyed the humor in it, and wanted to be in a play directed by 30-year veteran director Dennehy.
What Gold most enjoyed about playing Vera was the humor in the role. "I like when we get chuckles. People are laughing and having a good time, and you're providing that for them," Gold said. "That's always nice."
At a Glance
Neil Simon's
"The Odd Couple"
(female version)
Weekends until Jan. 27
Emily and Jerry Spiegel Playhouse
Hofstra University, South Campus
Hempstead, (516) 463-6644
$17; $15 seniors
