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‘Odd couple’ a good pair
Published 11:17am Friday, March 1, 2013The Odd Couple takes the stage in March as the Minnesota State Community and Technical College Theatre Department produces the classic Neil Simon comedy that inspired the long-running television show of the same name.
The Odd Couple tells the hilarious story of two recently divorced and mismatched roommates, the neurotic neat freak Felix Unger and the slovenly Oscar Madison. Playing the lead roles are Hazen Roller-Olson of Fergus Falls as Felix and Russell Duncan Jr. of Battle Lake as Oscar.
This will be the last act at M State for Duncan and Roller-Olson, as it is the final semester for both students.
“There’s been good and bad times here, but overall I’ve really enjoyed my time here and met a lot of really great people,” said Roller-Olson, who graduated last year with a Associate of Fine Arts in Music and obtained an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts this semester. “I’ve never been in a play with so many lines before — seventy percent is just Rusty and I on stage, it’s very interesting.”
Roller-Olson plans to continue on to Minnesota State University Mankato State to major in music, and ultimately plans to become a music teacher. He has participated in M State’s Concert Choir, Voice Ensemble and Chamber Choral groups, and also plays piano and cello.
The cast also includes Oscar’s poker-playing buddies Speed (Mark Giannulis of Tarpon Springs, Fla.), Murray (Spencer Imsande of New York Mills), Vinnie (Jacob Bauer of Graceville), Ed (Bradley Mueker of Fergus Falls) and Roy (Ben Walkup of Fergus Falls); and the two lovely Pigeon sisters — one a divorcee and the other a widow — who live in Oscar and Felix’s apartment building, Cecily (AnnaLisa Brown of Fergus Falls) and Gwendolyn (Jenny Thompson of Barrett).
The play is directed by M State theatre instructor Stefanie Gerhardson.
Performances for M State’s upcoming comedy production of “The Odd Couple,” are at 7:30 p.m. March 1 and 2; 2 p.m. March 3; and 7:30 p.m. March 7 through 9, at the Waage Theatre on the campus of M State — Fergus Falls.
Tickets are $9 in advance and $11 at the door for adults, and $7 in advance and $8 at the door for students. Tickets are on sale now at the M State Box Office, by calling 218-736-1600, or online at www.mstatetickets.com
