Riverbend Players bring
‘The Odd
Couple’
to Nehalem
T
The joy of community theater is the chance to
see friends and neighbors stretch beyond their com-
fort zone and inhabit personalities the polar oppo-
site of their own. A pharmacist becomes a pirate; a
police of¿ cer belts out 6ondheim; a librarian gets to
tap dance. Audiences and actors get to let their hair
down and live in someone else’s skin.
It’s probably why Jack Nicholson called acting
“everybody’s favorite second job.”
Neil 6imon’s “The 2dd &ouple” is a showcase
for eccentric and colorful characters. It’s why the
Riverbend Players, a community theater group
based at the North &ounty Recreation 'istrict in
Nehalem, chose it as their spring production.
Photo by Dan Haag
“(verybody has heard of µThe 2dd &ouple,’” Mike Sims, left, and Brian McMahon, right, can’t wait for the cur-
tain to rise April 16 for their production of Neil Simon’s “The Odd
director Betsy McMahon says.
'ebuting on Broadway in , 6imon’s co- Couple,” directed by Betsy McMahon, center, at the NCRD Perform-
ing Arts Center in Nehalem.
medic classic revolves around two mismatched
roommates: the neat, uptight Felix Ungar and the is me, my alter ego,” he says, laughing. “If Betsy
slovenly, easygoing 2scar Madison. The roles were didn’t keep track, our house would be an absolute
further immortalized by Jack Lemmon and Walter mess.”
6ims ² a Manzanita police of¿ cer ² says Fe-
Mathau, respectively, in the ¿ lm adaptation.
&asting such legendary characters is no small lix’s fastidiousness is a big stretch for him.
“It’s a challenge for me,” he says. “I wouldn’t
task, yet McMahon found them in two Riverbend
veterans, Brian McMahon and Mike 6ims. (ach have been interested if it was anyone but Brian
playing opposite of me.”
were eager to sink their
McMahon and 6ims have
teeth into the iconic roles.
shared the stage numerous times
Brian McMahon, Bet-
7 p.m. April 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30
and formed a fast friendship,
sy’s husband, claims that the
something that lends itself well
role of 2scar reÀ ects many
2 p.m. April 17 and May 1
to “The 2dd &ouple.”
of his own traits. “This role
NCRD Performing Arts Center
“The Odd Couple”
Submitted photo
The North County Recreation District’s Performing Arts Center un-
derwent a massive remodel during the last year.
“We are on stage together alone about one hour
and ¿ fty minutes out of two hours,” 6ims says. “It
helps when you like and trust each other.”
Riverbend Players formed in 2003 as a small
reader’s theater and quickly evolved into a group of
about 40 that stages several plays and productions
each year.
All involved agree that “The 2dd &ouple” is the
biggest name play they’ve tackled.
Adding to the usual pomp and circumstance
surrounding an opening will be the newly reno-
vated N&R' Performing Arts &enter. “The 2dd
&ouple” will be the ¿ rst production staged in the
redone facility.
Betsy McMahon is thrilled to see how far the
building has come. Though plays were staged there,
its character was along the lines of 2scar Madison
himself: disheveled and tattered around the edges.
“It was mostly storage, piles of stuff every-
where,” she says.
That has changed with around $200,000 worth
of work: New lighting, seats, carpet, railings and a
remodeled stage give the room a classic, regal feel.
McMahon cites strident local support from
&ART’M and Manzanita Lumber in the form of
needed materials.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without
them,” she says.
McMahon also notes the roster of Riverbend
Players volunteers whose work goes far beyond
what is seen on stage, such as lighting and set con-
struction.
For Brian McMahon and 6ims, opening night is
most welcome after months of preparation.
They both laugh when people tell them after a
show how easy they made acting look.
“It’s fun to be up there in front of people” Mc-
Mahon says, adding that’s the beauty of theater.
“You want people to say ‘Hey, I’d like to do that.’”
6ims admits that everything about preparing a
play is struggle: grueling rehearsals, missed lines,
costume changes.
“It ain’t easy, and I hate every second of it,” he
says. “I like it when the lights come on, and the
seats are ¿ lled.”
36155 Ninth St., Nehalem
503-368-7008
$15 for adults, free for children 12 and under
the arts
VISUAL ARTS • LITERATURE • THEATER • MUSIC & MORE
Story by DAN HAAG
Submitted photo
The renovated NCRD Performing Arts Center, shown here rin a panoramic view, will debut the Riverbend Players’ production of “The Odd Couple” April 16 to May 1.
April 14, 2016 | coastweekend.com | 9