KINGMAN – For three nights only, two men will be living under Lee Williams High School’s roof. From Beale Street Theater, director Matt Lambert depicts Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple’s intended message: Friends are there for you when you need them, even if you might get on each other’s nerves. Oscar Madison played by Bob Blake and Felix Ungar played by Geoff Cornelsen, are quite the odd couple indeed.

After his wife demands a divorce, Felix finds himself at the home of his best friend, Oscar – a messy, aloof, broke sports writer living in 1960s New York. Audiences of all ages can expect a whirlwind of chaotic poker nights, and the development of humorous camaraderie despite the idea that oil and water – Felix and Oscar – never mix well.

In an exclusive interview, Bob Blake and Geoff Cornelsen hash out their challenges portraying this dissonant pair in one of the most iconic shows in history.

Geoff, a surgeon outside of the theater, says that he can blame some of his OCD tendencies on his career. In the last couple of months he even admits to bursting out in laughter realizing he is the living version of Felix Ungar. Geoff goes on to say that “Anybody who has … some feelings of anxiety or … feels like a clean freak will relate really well … A lot of people will relate to him at some point. If you don’t now, just hold on because 10 minutes later he will be in a different place.”

Bob Blake also related to his character, as he suggested he also had “lots of dirt” in his life – not a surprising term, as Bob is a full-time rancher outside of Beale Street Theater. His attitude towards many things in life is about “letting things happen.” And letting things happen is exactly what Oscar Madison does in the show. When asked who would relate to Oscar the most, Bob says, “The people that had bad roommates will love Felix, but the people who were bad roommates will love Oscar.”

So, which one are you? Felix or Oscar? Come find out Thursday, Friday, and Saturday March 14, 15, and 16 at 7 p.m., and for anyone with busy evenings, a matinee show will be held Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. Tickets for Beale Street Theater’s production of The Odd Couple at Lee Williams High School, 400 Grandview Ave., are $12 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets are available at bealestreettheater.com or at the door. For more information, contact Beale Street Theater at 385-319-5238 or email info@bealestreettheater.com.

– Skyler Holmes