  the odd couple is a play by neil simon. following its premiere on broadway in 1965, the characters were revived in a successful 1968 film and 1970s television series, as well as other derivative works and spin-offs. the plot concerns two mismatched roommates: the neat, uptight felix ungar and the slovenly, easygoing oscar madison. simon adapted the play in 1985 to feature a pair of female roommates (florence ungar and olive madison) in the female odd couple. an updated version of the 1965 show appeared in 2002 with the title oscar and felix: a new look at the odd couple. ==history== sources vary as to the origins of the play. in danny simon's obituary in the washington post, adam bernstein wrote that the idea for the play came from his divorce. "mr. simon had moved in with a newly single theatrical agent named roy gerber in hollywood, and they invited friends over one night. mr. simon botched the pot roast. the next day, gerber told him: "sweetheart, that was a lovely dinner last night. what are we going to have tonight?" mr. simon replied: "what do you mean, cook you dinner? you never take me out to dinner. you never bring me flowers."bernstein, adam. "tv comedy writer danny simon dies"washington post, july 28, 2005 danny simon wrote a partial first draft of the play, but then handed over the idea to neil. however, in the mel brooks biography it's good to be the king, author james robert parish claims that the play came about after simon observed brooks, in a separation from his first wife, living with writer speed vogel for three months. vogel later wrote that brooks had insomnia, "a brushstroke of paranoia," and "a blood-sugar problem that kept us a scintilla away from insanity." ===boston tryout=== simon credited boston critic elliot norton with helping him develop the final act of the play. norton practiced drama criticism when the relationship between the regional critic and playwrights whose shows were undergoing tryouts in their towns were not as adversarial as they were to become. appearing on the public television show eliott norton reviews, during simon's conversation with the critic, elliott said that the play went &qu
1965_plays Broadway_plays Plays_by_Neil_Simon The_Odd_Couple