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THE ODD COUPLE is a fast-paced, character-driven comedy about two divorced friends who attempt to share an apartment, with disastrous and hilarious results.
Sloppy, easygoing Oscar Madison opens his home to recently separated Felix Ungar, a tightly wound neat freak whose compulsive habits quickly push their friendship to the breaking point. As poker nights unravel, romantic misfires mount, and tempers flare, the apartment becomes a battleground of clashing personalities.
A beloved classic, the play explores friendship, loneliness, and the challenge of coexisting with someone who is your complete opposite.
-AUDITION DATES: Saturday, 02/21/26, from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm and Monday, 02/23/26, from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm.
-AUDITION LOCATION: NCRD Performing Arts Center Lobby
-REHEARSALS BEGIN: 03/01/26
-WEEKLY REHEARSAL SCHEDULE: Tentatively, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 pm – 8 pm, and Sundays, 4 pm – 6 pm
-TECH WEEKS: 05/25/26 – 06/04/26
-PERFORMANCE DATES: 06/05/26 – 06/21/26… Friday and Saturday nights at 7 pm, Sunday Matinees at 2 pm.
CAST OF CHARACTERS: 2 M, 2 F, 4 M/F
-OSCAR MADISON– Male, 30s–50s A divorced sportswriter. Sloppy, loud, sarcastic, and emotionally guarded. Oscar is generous at heart but resistant to change and responsibility. Strong comic timing required, with the ability to balance humor and genuine warmth.
-FELIX UNGER– Male, 30s–50s Recently separated and highly neurotic. Meticulous, anxious, sensitive, and obsessively tidy. Felix wears his emotions openly and believes deeply in rules, manners, and structure. Requires excellent comedic precision and vulnerability.
-MURRAY / MARY – Male or Female, 30s–60s A police officer and longtime friend of Oscar. Practical, grounded, and slightly world-weary. Murray brings a stabilizing presence to the group and often serves as the voice of reason amid the chaos. Strong ensemble skills required; dry humor and authority are key.
-SPEED – Male or Female, 30s–60s One of Oscar’s poker buddies. Gruff, opinionated, and blunt, with a sharp edge and strong comedic instincts. Speed enjoys ribbing the group and speaking their mind. An actor comfortable with sarcasm and group dynamics will thrive in this role.
-VINNIE / VICKY – Male or Female, 30s–60s Another member of the poker group. Good-natured, expressive, and occasionally excitable. Vinnie enjoys the group’s camaraderie and responds openly to the escalating tension between Oscar and Felix. Requires solid comic timing and responsiveness in ensemble scenes.
-ROY/ ROSE– Male or Female, 30s–60s A quick-witted poker buddy with a sharp tongue and keen observations. Roy often delivers punchlines and reactions that heighten the comedy of group scenes. Strong listening skills and rhythmic timing are essential.
-GWENDOLYN PIGEON – Female, 30s–50s One of the British Pigeon sisters who lives upstairs. Elegant, flirtatious, and slightly naïve. Requires a light British accent.
A light British accent focuses on clarity and rhythm rather than perfection; actors may use a gentle, non-regional UK sound (think soft consonants and relaxed vowels), and precision is not required at auditions.
-CECILY PIGEON – Female, 30s–50s The other Pigeon sister. Warm, romantic, and more emotionally expressive than her sister. Also requires a light British accent.
A light British accent focuses on clarity and rhythm rather than perfection; actors may use a gentle, non-regional UK sound (think soft consonants and relaxed vowels), and precision is not required at auditions.
More details and audition sides available here:
www.riverbendplayers.org/auditions
Notes: Contemporary American speech. Light New York or neutral American dialect acceptable. British accents are helpful for the Pigeon sisters, but not required at auditions. No intimacy or stage violence; emphasis is on timing, listening, and ensemble chemistry.
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