Janet Lucas brings Neil Simon’s story to life

Photo courtesy of Carriage House Arts Center
Photo courtesy of Carriage House Arts Center
Photo courtesy of Carriage House Arts Center

By Mike Drake

Port Angeles Community Players or PACP, present Neil Simon’s comedy “The Odd Couple” with a little twist, it’s the female version.

The play was supposed to be the male version, but more women than men showed up to audition.

PACP President Janet Lucas said, “It’s the female version of the class play and film, The Odd Couple by Neil Simon. The female version has Olive and Florence rather than Oscar and Felix. Men from Spain replace the Pidgeon sisters in the plot synopsis the follows. The basic plot goes like this, ‘When fussy Florence (me) becomes suicidal over her impending divorce, she accepts an offer to move in with her best friend, messy Olive Madison (Lynne Murphy). Florence drives Olive crazy with her obsession over cleanliness and her soon-to-be ex. Olive tries to get her out of her funk by arranging a double date with two wacky Spanish neighbors, Manolo (Joe Schultz) and Jesus (Ken Winters). When the plan backfires, Florence and Olive’s friendship is put to the test.’”

“This play is part of the Port Angeles Community Players’ regular season. This play runs five nights a week for two weeks; usually they’re four nights a week for three weeks,” Lucas said. “They produce four plays a year plus several 2nd Stage Productions.”

The play is performed at the Port Angeles Community Playhouse located at 1235 East Lauridsen Blvd.

Nov.  29 was opening day and the play starts at 7:30 p.m. on the following nights; Dec. 8,9 and 10.

There is one daytime performance on Dec. 11 at 2:00 p.m.

Lucas spoke about the amount of practice she puts into the play, “Four rehearsals a week that are two and a half hours or so, five rehearsals a week closer to production time, but at least a couple of hours a day on my own rehearsing.”

Lucas is no stranger to the stage. She continued, “I grew up in a theatre family and was in several plays as a teenager and young adult. I took 20-yearar hiatus and got back into theatre in 2011 at Peninsula College’s Find Your Voice play festivals. I’ve also done several reader’s theatres including the Raymond Carver Festival at PC.”

According to Lucas, The Odd Couple cost around $1,200 to put on.

Lucas added one final thought, “The Players would love to have new members, young or old. I encourage Peninsula College students to join in the fun! Contact me at 416-6221 or jlucas@pencol.edu or drop by my office in C-209.”