Comedy masters Brian Meegan and Steve Rodgers are the definitive odd couple in Neil Simon’s hilarious Tony Award winning play of divorce, friendship and (mis)understanding.

Overview

Oscar likes cards. Sports. Eating leftovers.

Felix likes clean air. Polished surfaces. Cooking.

When recently divorced Oscar invites getting-divorced Felix to share his New York apartment, it might not improve their friendship. In fact, it might just ruin it. Will Felix survive late nights, TV dinners and yesterday’s towels? And will Oscar survive drink coasters, clean ashtrays and the recipe for London broil? And who threw that spaghetti at the wall?

Comedy masters Brian Meegan (THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, TWO) and Steve Rodgers are the definitive odd couple in Neil Simon’s Tony Award winning comedy of divorce, friendship and (mis)understandings.

“Eagle” Written by: G. Piccioni Universal Music Publishing Ricordi Srl. Administered by: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd “Moglie Americana” Written by: G. Oliviero Universal Music Publishing Ricordi Srl. Administered by: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd “Tenerezza” Written by: P. Umiliani Universal Music Publishing Ricordi Srl. Administered by: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd

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SINGLE TICKET PRICESPreviews & weekday matineesEvenings & weekend matinees
Adult$73$78
Seniors$70$75
Pensioners$66$71
Under 30s & Full-time students$38$43
MEAA members$43$43
Groups 10-19$70$75
Groups 20+$66$71
School groups$25$25
Reviews

"A masterclass in classic comedy" Sydney Morning Herald

"A well-staged, entertaining production of a warm, affectionate, funny play" Limelight

"Energetic and entertaining, Mark Kilmurry’s crowd pleasing direction revives the work" Suzy Goes See

"[Steve] Rodgers plays Oscar with grubby charm... [Brian] Meegan brings a finely calibrated prickle to the character of Felix" Sydney Morning Herald

"Drenched with gags and one-liners... Spectacular fun" Stage Whispers

"A masterclass in period farce, male relationships, and tried-and-tested hijinks... a breath of fresh air" The Music

Cast & Creatives
Neil Simon

Neil Simon

Playwright
Mark Kilmurry

Mark Kilmurry

Director
Laurence Coy

Laurence Coy

Cast
Katie Fitchett

Katie Fitchett

Cast
Robert Jago

Robert Jago

Cast
James Lugton

James Lugton

Cast

Theatre Credits include: For Bell Shakespeare OTHELLO, RICHARD 3; for Sport for Jove  LOVES LABOUR’S LOST, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, SHAKESPEAREALISM, EDWARD 2, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, THE CRUCIBLE, AALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, CYRANO DE BERGERAC, HAMLET, THE TEMPEST, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (Sydney Theatre Award  – Best Actor in an Independent Production 2012), MACBETH, THE LIBERTINE (Sydney Theatre Award  – Best Independent Production 2011), AS YOU LIKE IT, ROMEO & JULIET and A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM;  for Whitebox/Griffin Independent UNHOLY GHOSTS; for Version 1.0 THE MAJOR MINOR PARTY; for Monkey Baa Theatre THURSDAY’S CHILD.

TV includes DOCTOR DOCTOR (Nine Network), FIGHTING SEADON (Foxtel/Goalpost), MARY: THE MAKING OF A PRINCESS (Network Ten/Fremantle), WONDERLAND (Network Ten/Fremantle), CLEO – PAPER GIANTS (ABC), THE CUT (ABC), TOUGH NUTS (Foxtel), ALL SAINTS (Channel 7), HOME AND AWAY (Channel 7), WATER RATS (Channel 9); Film includes HACKSAW RIDGE, JOE CINQUE’S CONSOLATION, QUEEN OF THE NIGHT and BMX BANDITSs.

Brian Meegan

Brian Meegan

Cast

For The Ensemble Theatre Brian has appeared IN TWO, A HISTORY OF FALLING THINGS, ABSENT FRIENDS, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, FRANKENSTEIN, THE ACT, MY WONDERFUL DAY, NINETY, ABIGAIL’S PARTY, CHAPTER TWO, ART, THE HEARTBREAK KID, MACBETH, WRONG FOR EACH OTHER, ALARMS AND EXCURSIONS and THE BOYS NEXT DOOR. His other theatre credits include COCK for Red Line Productions, GLEN GARRY GLEN ROSS for the Western Australian Theatre Company and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and THE GRASS WIDOW for The Hole in the Wall Theatre Company. BREAKING THE SILENCE for Marion Street, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING for Shakespeare in the Park, HAMLET, HENRY IV, OTHELLO and ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA for The Sydney Theatre Company and KING LEAR for The Studio Company. Brian also co-wrote his own show, THE BOYS GOTTA BONK which toured to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

For Television he has appeared IN DEVILS DUST, UNDERBELLY “BADNESS”, A MODEL DAUGHTER – THE KILLING OF CAROLINE BYRNE, SEA PATROL, WATER RATS, ALL SAINTS, GRASS ROOTS, STINGERS, BLUE HEELERS, BLUE WATER HIGH and THROUGH MY EYES. Brian played the regular character of Colin Thompson on GOING HOME for SBS. For the ABC he has appeared in MARKING TIME and CURTIN. His voice over credits include PETALS for ABC, OZ THE MAGICAL ADVENTURE – Interactive DVD and DEADLY for Yoram Gross, voice work on the Interactive game BORDERLANDS for 2K Australia P/L. Brian’s film appearances include PRIME MOVER, $9.99, JOYRIDER, THREADED, RISK and THE ILLUSTRATED FAMILY DOCTOR.

Brian graduated from WAAPA in 1984.

Nicholas Papademetriou

Nicholas Papademetriou

Cast
Olivia Pigeot

Olivia Pigeot

Cast
Steve Rodgers

Steve Rodgers

Cast
Hugh O’Connor

Hugh O’Connor

Set and Costume Designer
Christopher Page

Christopher Page

Lighting Designer

Lighting designer Chris is a creator of worlds and has crafted unique environments for a diverse range of shows.

For Ensemble Theatre Chris’ credits include LIP SERVICE, ODD MAN OUT, BETRAYAL, A HISTORY OF FALLING THINGS, THE GOOD DOCTOR, BLUE/ORANGE and video design on e-Baby. Other recent credits include: THE NETHER, PLATONOV (Catnip Productions); SHE RODE HORSES LIKE THE STOCK EXCHANGE, BETWEEN THE STREETLIGHT AND THE MOON (KXT); LA CALISTO (Sydney Conservatorium of Music); A LIFE IN THE THEATRE, THE MAN WITH FIVE CHILDREN and RIDE/FOURPLAY (Darlinghurst Theatre); BU21, 4:12 (Outhouse Theatre); GIRLS LIKE THAT, JOURNEY’S END (ATYP); LIGHTEN UP, THE WITCHES, FIVE PROPERTIES OF CHAINMALE (Griffin Theatre); BLACK JESUS, HIS MOTHER’S VOICE, GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Bakehouse Theatre); THE DARK ROOM, WINDMILL BABY, AS YOU LIKE IT (Belvoir). Site-specific works includes: THIS IS A VOICE, ANCIENT LIVES (Powerhouse Museum), WARATAH (Vivid); EL ANATSUI (Carriageworks); ACTION STATIONS (National Maritime Museum); BECALMED HEART, MET YOU IN A CITY THAT ISN’T ON A MAP (Underbelly Arts Festival) and MANGROVES (Kate Richards & UNSW)

Dani Ironside

Dani Ironside

Stage Manager

Dani is a graduate from Charles Sturt University, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Design for Theatre and Television.

Dani’s Stage Management credits with Ensemble Theatre include: LIP SERVICE, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, ODD MAN OUT, e-baby, JACK OF HEARTS, MY ZINC BED, LADIES IN LAVENDER, ABSENT FRIENDS, OTHER DESERT CITIES, CRUISE CONTROL, NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH, SEMINAR, HAPPINESS, MANAGING CARMEN, SKYLIGHT, GINGERBREAD LADY and WARNING: EXPLICIT MATERIAL. Other Stage Management credits include SAMSON for Belvoir, 2015 CHINESE NEW YEAR CONCERT for Hunan Orchestra of Chinese Music, DMITRY SINKOVSKY RUSSIAN BAROQUE VIOLIN for Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, THE SHOE-HORN SONATA for Riverside Theatre and A SECRET PLACE for Australian Theatre for Young People. Dani is also a Stage Management Mentor & Supervisor at NIDA and Technical Stage Manager at City Recital Hall – Angel Place. For television, Dani has worked on THE VOICE, THE VOICE- KIDS and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.

Claire Miller

Claire Miller

Assistant Stage Manager Intern
Alana Canceri

Alana Canceri

Costume Supervisor

Alana is a Sydney-based costume designer, maker and supervisor. She trained at Ultimo TAFE where she received Diplomas in Costume for Performance, Fashion Design & Technology and Printing & Graphic Arts.

Theatre credits for Ensemble Theatre: NEVILLE’S, ISLAND, THE RASPUTIN AFFAIR, TWO, e-baby, THE BIG DRY, TRIBES, GOOD PEOPLE, JACK OF HEARTS, BLOOD BANK, MY ZINC BED, THE BOOK CLUB, MOTHERS AND SONS and THE ANZAC PROJECT. Other credits: CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL (City of Sydney, assistant supervisor, maker), THAT EYE, THE SKY (New Theatre, costume designer), 8TH WONDER- SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE THE OPERA (Opera Australia, dresser), MY FAIR LADY (Opera Australia, maker), PUMPED UP (web-series, designer), SKINFORD (web-series, standby) and GODS OF EGYPT (feature film, maker). Alana has also worked as a stylist for Ensemble Theatre 2016, 2017 & 2018 Season Brochure.

Nick Curnow

Nick Curnow

Dialect Coach
Director's Note

Neil Simon’s classic comedy started life in 1965 and ran until 1967, after 964 performances. The spin-off film starring Walter Matthau (the original Oscar Madison) and Jack Lemmon was a huge success followed by a long running television series from 1970-75 with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. There have been many Broadway revivals, female casting of THE ODD COUPLE roles, and another television series as recently as 2015. So why revisit the play if the idea of two divorced individuals trying to live together and survive is so prominent in our popular culture? The answer is in the breathtaking craftsmanship Neil Simon applied to his plays. The well-rounded believable characters are trapped in situations which bring out the best and worst in humanity. THE ODD COUPLE may have been written in the mid 1960’s but the essence of the relationship between two people poles apart is easily identifiable whether you live in New York or any other place in the world. We laugh at Neil Simon’s ability to make these eclectic characters relatable, but we also get a real sense of his love and affection for this odd couple – even with all their flaws! Enjoy this very special cast bringing to life a very special play.

Mark Kilmurry,
Artistic Director

PHOTO GALLERY

Photography by Prudence Upton

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM

Want to know more about Neil Simon’s hilarious Tony Award winning play? Our downloadable program is full of exciting extra tidbits about the show. You’ll find a director’s note from Mark Kilmurry, synopsis, photos of the rehearsals and more!

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM