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A review by Reina Lisa Menasche
September 21, 2014 (San Diego)--What do you get when you cross Neil Simon’s classic 1960s New York comedy “The Odd Couple” with modern day, southern California references and Latino color, characters, innuendo, and ad libs? A surprising and delightful rendition, zestily presented by the Teatro Mascara Magica at San Diego’s Lyceum Theatre. Dave Rivas, co-producer and co-director of the production, is a Spring Valley resident.
The theme of the play remains true to the original and is universal: divorced bachelors, slob versus neat freak, in a friendship strained not only by conflicts over living conditions but also the poignancy of loss and change. But the seasoning on this well-known dish of a show is exotic, original, up to date, and hilarious.
Hollywood luminaries Paul Rodriguez (as slovenly sports writer Oscar Madison) and Mike Gomez (as the persnickety, sinus-clogged Felix Unger) are brilliant in bringing their iconic roles to life—and then some. The result is an unforgettable and unexpected romp.
Who thinks of Felix Unger sending his wife an Instagram? Who envisions the silly and sexy Pigeon Sisters as Mexican, tortilla-munching girls who pose for a Selfie? These touches of the Teatro Mascara Magica’s production are both defining and incidental.
Taken as a whole, the performance was so magical that the details hardly matter. The audience just savors the ride. Yet the details—everything from the borderland decorations on the wall to references to jumping from the Coronado Bridge—help create such a delightful, unifying experience for the audience.
The other poker-players in Oscar and Felix’s life are played with equal brilliance. The characters presented themselves as authentic, flawed, and therefore very real, with the same spattering of borderland humor throughout. The set was perfect and perfectly simple, the warm community sense in the audience palpable. Even the scene changes held unexpected humor and collaboration.
Teatro Mascara Magica’s has expressed its goal as the redefinition of San Diego Theatre to include cultures and voices not traditionally represented in mainstream. This version of “The Odd Couple” has certainly helped America’s Finest City achieve that goal.
“The Odd Couple” runs September 18-28. Tickets are available from the San Diego Repertory Theater Box Office, or www.sdrep.org .
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