'Odd Couple' Fundraiser for New Rochelle High School Theater Works

The Neil Simon classic The Odd Couple, changed to star women leads, will be presented Thursday through Saturday at the New Rochelle High School Theater Works' Dinner Theater.

The evenings will start at 6:30 p.m. with dinner, provided by , and cabaret performance, followed by the play. Tickets cost $15 for adults; $12 for students and seniors. Performances will be in the new wing of the high school in the Linda E. Kelly Theater.

Theatre Works Advisor Lisbeth Smith Lynn said the performances will raise money for the after-school program, which doesn't receive funds from the school district.

"Basically each show we do sort of funds the next show," she said. "We do get a generous donation from the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence. They always come through for us."

Lynn said the group last performed the female version of the Simon play about 10 years ago.

"For the dinner theater, we try to do some light fair," she said. So director Dan Browne was asked to come up with something that would go with dinner and cabaret.

Playing Olive (Oscar) Madison, the sports writer, is Leah Siesfeld, 16, a junior at the high school.

"Olive is a complete slob," she said, "and is incredibly free-spirited. She has an apartment in the city and doesn't know how to cook."

Siesfeld said her character takes pity on a newly separated Florence (Felix), played by Claire Deane, a junior, and suggests they share Madison's apartment.

"[Olive] doesn't know how bad things are going to be," she said.

Siesfeld said she thinks the premise of the play is hilarious. 

"I'm so glad Neil Simon wrote a female version," she said. "I think it's a good show for anyone to see."

Having never done a Simon comedy, Siesfeld didn't realize what a difficult role it was.

"There were some things that were challenging, acting wise," she said, "and what I learned from this is translating the emotion into the physicality."

In the last couple of weeks, the actors have had to adapt to working with props, crawling over couches and relearn to eat.

"Using food and drink [on stage]," Siesfeld said, "you have to realize that while you are eating you may have too much in your mouth."

All in all, she's having a great time working on the play.

"Oh my god, it's the best," Siesfeld said.

Reservations can be made until 1:30 p.m. the day of each performance. Call 914-546-3938 or e-mail llynn@nred.org. Dietary issues can be addressed.

CORRECTION: This article has been modified from the original version to correct the spelling of Claire Deane's name and that of the Linda E. Kelly Theater.