It's the Asianification of Neil Simon's Odd Couple.  Felix is now a  neat freak traditional new immigrant and Oscar is a messy multigenerational.

http://www.vact.ca/media/oddcouplephotos/oddcouple_couples_lowres.jpg

VACT's "The Odd Couple" with Jimmy Yi (center) as "Felix", Ron Yamauchi as "Oscar", Carmine Bernhardt as "Gwendolyn Pigeon" and Lissa Neptuno as "Cecily Pigeon" - photo by Ray Shum, courtesy of VACT.


Roundhouse Performance Centre
Pacific Blvd & Davie (Yaletown), Vancouver
August 13 through 21 All evening performances at 8:00PM, matinees at 2:00PM
Tuesdays to Saturdays (evenings) + Sundays (matinees)

Ticket prices
$23 in advance online at www.vact.ca
$25 by phone reservation (cash only, pickup at the door) - Phone 778.885.1973
$25 at the door (cash only)
Service charges are included.  Please call for Group Rates.

For more ticket information please visit www.vact.ca

I went to see "The Odd Couple" on it's July run in Richmond, and wrote up my review for July 19, 2008: "Odd Couple - Friendship with an Asian style twist on the Neil Simon play."

It's quite enjoyable, and it really makes you think about the possibilities for Asian actors in Vancouver.  Many of Vancouver's Asian actors get caught between the stereotyped roles offered to them in a Caucasian-centric "Western" theatre tradition, or learning Chinese and traveling to Hong Kong, Taiwan or China where they can move beyond the limited stereotyped roles.  Few Asian actors are able to blend into mainstream film and television like Kristen Kreuk or Meg Tilly, merely because they look "too Asian."

VACT producer Joyce Lam says. "This production appeals to our core audience of first generation and "Generation 2.0" young acculturated Asian Canadians, but we think we'll also attract recent immigrant Chinese especially those living in Richmond, plus older Asian Canadians and parents especially those who are familiar with the works of Neil Simon, and then finally every one else who aren't Asian Canadian but are looking for a unique and entertaining cross-cultural experience."


The Province: "The much odder Odd Couple"

The Province's Lynn Mitges reports on the upcoming VACT production, The Odd Couple. Read the article here. (PDF format)

24 Hours Vancouver: "The Odd Couple courts a crowd"

24 Hours' Graeme McRanor reports on the upcoming VACT production, The Odd Couple. Read the article here. (PDF format)

24 Hours Vancouver: "Un-stuck for words"

24 Hours' Graeme McRanor reports on VACT's, The Odd Couple, being produced with Chinese subtitles. Read the article here. (PDF format)