UPCOMING AUDITIONS
The Odd Couple by Neil Simon
Directed by Lachlan Ruffy
Production dates
Preview: 25 February 2026
Season: 25 February – 13 March 2026
Audition details
Dates & times: Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 10-5pm
Location: TBC
To register for an audition fill out the google form and the production team will contact you to confirm a time.
Scripts are available from Canberra REP Theatre
Wed-Fri 10am-4pm
There is a $5 cash deposit for scripts - refundable on return at the audition.
No card payments taken.
Synopsis
Oscar Madison is a divorced sportswriter living in Manhattan alone, enjoying his weekly poker games with buddies. When his friend, neurotic neat-freak Felix Ungar, separates from his wife, Oscar proposes they live together – but can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?
A timeless comedy of mismatched roommates and chaotic domestic life. Neil Simon’s beloved play brings together sharp wit, heartfelt moments, and the hilarity of two men navigating friendship, frustration, and the fallout of living together.
Characters
Oscar Madison: A 43-year-old sportswriter living alone after his recent divorce. He is highly sociable and generous but deeply irresponsible with money and household cleanliness. His sloppy lifestyle and casual attitude toward financial obligations mask a deep fear of living in isolation.
Felix Ungar: A news writer whose life is upended by an impending divorce. He is highly neurotic, obsessed with cleanliness, and deeply attached to his family. While his fastidious nature is driven by anxiety and a desire to care for others, his controlling habits often alienate the people closest to him.
Murray: One of Oscar and Felix's regular poker buddies. He uses the weekly poker game as an escape from his unhappy marriage and nagging wife. He is sympathetic to Felix's distress and genuinely enjoys the improved food when Felix takes over the hosting duties.
Roy: Oscar's accountant and a regular at the Friday night poker games. He is a practical man who tries to impress upon Oscar the legal severity of his unpaid child support. He prefers the messy, relaxed atmosphere of Oscar's original apartment and intensely dislikes Felix's sterile cleaning habits.
Speed: A focused and impatient member of the weekly poker group. He has little tolerance for anything that delays the game, whether it is Oscar's mouldy food or Felix's overzealous hospitality and air filtration.
Vinnie: A mild-mannered member of the poker group who is constantly anxious about upsetting his wife. He keeps strict curfews and is highly submissive to his partner's schedule, making him deeply appreciative of the high-quality food Felix begins preparing.
Gwendolyn Pigeon: A widow who lives in the apartment directly above Oscar. She is bubbly and surprisingly receptive to Felix's emotional breakdowns. She and her sister provide a cheerful contrast to the cynical men of the poker group.
Cecily Pigeon: A divorcee sharing an apartment with her sister Gwendolyn. Like her sister, she is deeply moved by Felix's open weeping and fragility, demonstrating a maternal desire to comfort and care for him during his emotional distress.
We’re seeking actors who:
- can approximate an American accent
- are playful and highly collaborative, with good comic timing
Audition requirements
Auditions will be relaxed, fun, and designed to give everyone the opportunity to showcase their comedic instincts and character work. Please prepare a short (1-3 mins) comedic monologue – this can be contemporary or classic. You’ll also be asked to read sections of the play, so please be familiar with the script and the character(s) you’re interested in.
You must be available for production week: from 20th February.
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If you have any questions please email auditions@canberrarep.org.au or call (02) 6257 1950 or (02) 6247 4222.
