“The Odd Couple”, a famous American iconic comedy about two mismatched roommates that appeared on Broadway in March 1965, is coming to Islamabad, said a press release.
Directed by renowned American director Allen Nause, written by Neil Simon and produced by Usama Qazi and Fatim Arbab, the play will be held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts between July 12 and July 17.
The story of “sloppy” Oscar Madison and “neurotic” Felix Ungar was so popular that it became the inspiration of many a modern day hit.
The production marks the first time in the history of theatre in Islamabad that an American director has come to Islamabad to direct a play.
Through the Cultural Envoy Program, the US Embassy Islamabad invited Allen Nause and also supported LUSH in the play’s production.
The Embassy believes in promoting cultural exchanges and strengthening people to people ties.
The exchange gives an opportunity to budding Pakistani artists to learn from an experienced American director, and also gives Allen a chance to take back his experience from Pakistan to the US and share his experience with other Americans.
Allen joined Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland, Oregon, as the company’s first artistic director in 1989 and has directed many of its most popular productions, including ‘Superior Donuts’, ‘Jack Goes Boating’, ‘Gracie and the Atom’ and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
About working on “The Odd Couple” in Pakistan, Allen said, “[It was] a joy to work on Neil Simon’s masterpiece in Islamabad, with [such an] energetic company.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2011.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ