Odd Pairing Works in ‘Odd Couple’

The revival of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” opening the Occidental Theater Festival at Occidental College’s Keck Theatre, doesn’t pander to the movie and television versions. Alan Freeman’s Oscar is more the strained common man than the curmudgeon, and Tom Shelton’s Felix is more neurotic than finicky. Yet it all works without a weak link, from the well-delineated supporting parts to John Patrick’s expansive set design.

Simon’s comedy about two men dealing with divorce at different stages glossed over harsh realities with booze, cigar smoke and a heavy dose of humor. When the original production opened on Broadway in 1965, psychobabble about divorce recovery periods hadn’t hit the mainstream, and cigar smoking wasn’t considered hip.

Simon’s bright ending rings false, rushing Felix from suicidal to giddy in a three-week period. But director Christopher Shelton smooths over this by building a farce about a different era and two mismatched roommates whose difficult personalities make them unbearable to live with.

At first, Freeman and Shelton appear miscast. They’re about the same size. Tom Shelton has the sturdier build and a melodious baritone that clashes with Freeman’s scratchy, thinner voice. Shelton could physically dominate Freeman, yet Shelton’s Felix is a large puppy, unsure of himself and seemingly unaware of his size. Freeman becomes less the bully and more a regular guy, albeit a world-class slob.

This pairing won’t remind you of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon or Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, but the production is a thoroughly pleasant evening that looks back at divorce through laughter rather than tears.

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* “The Odd Couple,” Occidental College, Keck Theatre, Eagle Rock. Thursdays-Sundays, 8 p.m. Ends July 17. $20. (323) 259-2922. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.