Benny Jay: The Odd Couple

On the hottest day of the year – the bank sign says it’s one hundred and five – I see The Odd Couple.

Go to the Raven Theater. Take my 81-year-old mother. She had a big operation a few months back, but she’s feeling better. Says she’s bored – wants to get out of the house. So it’s all good….

This is the perfect show for us to see. We love Neil Simon. The guy’s so freaking funny. And there’s always this tinge of sadness behind the one liners. Just to remind you – in case you could possibly forget – that it’s not all fun and games in life, even when you’re laughing.

Point of information for all you youngsters out there in Third City land – The Odd Couple’s the show about the neat guy (Felix Unger) who moves in with the slob (Oscar Madison), whereupon they drive each other batty.

You probably saw the movie….

I love The Odd Couple – especially the movie with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon — it just may be my favorite Neil Simon play. I’ve seen this particular production three times. That’s right – as in one, two, three. I’ve seen it so many times, I could be the understudy.

I think I like it so much cause I can relate to Felix. Not that I’m fastidious. It’s just that I live with a bunch of women who leave their shoes lying all around the house. Late at night – when the house is dark and they’re asleep and I’m going to bed – I’ll stumble over some discarded sandal. And – Goddman it!!!

Ask my dog – who’s up late with me – she’ll tell you all about it.

Plus, I love those poker scenes in The Odd Couple.  Back in high school, I used to play tons of poker with my buddies. Five or six of us in Jonny Seidman’s basement. Just like the boys in The Odd Couple – Oscar, Felix, Murray, Speed, Roy and Vinnie – we’d be cracking wise.

One time we were listening to the Beatles on the tape player and this kid — I think it was  Tom Marx — was singing along to Fool on the Hill. He got the lines twisted. Started singing “but nobody wants to know him” when he should have been singing “but nobody ever hears him.” Or whatever.

He tried to play it off by quickly jumping to the right words, but Jonny didn’t let it slide.

“That’s okay,” Jonny deadpanned. “The Beatles made a mistake.”

That was – what – 40 years ago? I’ve been shameless using Jonny’s line ever since….

Anyway – where was I? Oh, yes – taking my mom to see The Odd Couple….

I used to play poker with my buddies, just like the boys….

Get there 45-minutes early, cause my mom didn’t want to be late.

On the way from the car to the theater, she tells me, “If it’s hot in the theater, I’m going to have to go home.”

While we’re waiting in the lobby, her allergies flare up. She says if it’s hard to breathe, she’ll have to leave the theater early.

I’m happy to tell you that everything works out great. Her sinuses are fine. The temperature’s perfect – not too hot or cold. And my mom and are laughing like crazy.

Especially in the scene when Oscar blows his top at Felix: “You leave little notes on my pillow. `We’re all out of Corn Flakes. F.U.’ It took me three hours to figure out that F.U. was Felix Unger.”

We’re still smiling when we leave the theater and go back into the heat. That Neil Simon’s a genius, I tell you. He’s got that priceless comic touch very few people have. Like Woody Allen said: “Dying’s easy, comedy’s hard.”

Except for Neil Simon. He makes it look easy.

So anyway, do yourselves a favor. Go see The Odd Couple over at the Raven Theater. It’s playing through August 7.

Take your mother – she’ll love it….

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