A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
This production by local theatre group, Ten Feet Tall’s Ensemble Productions, is a twist on the well known play and movie. In the original, by Neil Simon, two divorced guys start sharing a flat together and find it is not always the opposite sex that causes the problems in a household! Having seen this play with its original gender at the Edinburgh Festival many years ago, played by the comedy geniuses Bill Bailey and Alan Davies, I was intrigued to see what it would be like featuring “the fairer sex”.
*
10 Feet Tall like to use unusual venues around the city, having previously performed in The Sheriff Court building, among others. This time we were in The Craig Centre which is part of Robert Gordon College, Aberdeen’s private school in the heart of the city. It was an unusual room set up, with the stage being on the floor in the middle and there being some chairs on each side where people could sit and have their own unique angle of the action. The set looks like someone’s lounge but with five big frames dotted around it, which turned out to be the doorways into the different rooms of the flat. It is very cleverly done as you still have the concept of people coming in and out of doors but without blocking anyone’s view.
*
*
The story starts over a game of Trivial Pursuits and it becomes apparent this group of ladies get together regularly and chat about life as they play their favorite board game. Their host is Olive, played by Jane Williams and she lives alone although still slightly besotted with her ex-husband. It transpires that Florence, played by Beth Trigg, is unusually late and on speaking to her husband they find out they have split up. Her friends are concerned over her mental well-being and what she might be away doing, but luckily the doorbell rings. After a hilarious panic about what to say to her and how to deal with it they let her in. Of course Olive invites Flo to stay with her and the rest of the play follows two very different people – one sloppy, one very tidy – trying to live together.
*
*
This is a very well thought and well-performed play. Some parts tug your heart strings whereas many parts leave you laughing. The things that girls say to each other can of course be quite hilarious. Especially when the two girls try dating two Spanish boys from upstairs and there are some language misunderstandings! Maonolo is played by Ben Barclay and Jesus by Lewis Masson and they are both very convincing Spaniards. The play is set in New York in 1985 and the female actors all manage to hold the American accents very well. They also put up with the shocking fashions from back then! Thank goodness shell suits are not still in fashion.
*
*
If you are too late to catch this show, which runs for 3 nights, I suggest you at least follow the group on social media so you do not miss their future shows. As well as taking us to some quirky locations that we may otherwise not visit they provide quality entertainment and a welcome escape for the hum drum of normal life. This show was especially appreciated as it was World Theatre Day and what better way to celebrate than supporting a local production!
Further information: https://www.tenfeettalltheatre.com/productions/odd-couple
Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
Subscribing to the 5D Pop Culture Website
If you would like to subscribe (for free) to the 5D Pop Culture Website and keep up to date with our content then just go to the bottom of the home page, submit your email & click subscribe!
5D Reviews
If you are a content creator and interested in having your work reviewed here on the 5D Pop Culture Website then contact us at 5DPopCulture@gmail.com
5D YouTube Channel
Check out our YouTube Channel at https://youtube.com/@5dpopcultureyoutube829?si=wGwmgWKx8fIaT3Os Here there are interviews, reviews, opinion pieces and all sorts of goodies from the pop culture world!
Ko-fee
If you would like to donate to help this website & also gain access to extra content, you can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/5dpopculturewebsite