Tickets are $15 at the door, $10 in advance.

The play is based on the 1968 comedy, written by Neil Simon that starred Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. It’s a story of two divorced men who decide to live together in an apartment despite the fact that their personalities clash.

Neat freak Felix Ungar and Oscar Madison, the slob, share many adventures in this 1968 film that was directed by Gene Saks.

David Holmes will play the role of Oscar Madison and Kurt Menzel will lay the role of Felix Ungar in the State Street Theater Company production.

Below: Oscar and Felix talks at the table.

The play will be directed by Michael Kuester, a 2016 Martin Luther College graduate. Kuester has a degree in education and currently works as a substitute teacher and para-professional for the New Ulm school district.

Kuester is a late-bloomer of sorts to the play scene.

“I was in a few shows in high school but I didn’t really get interested in theater until college,” he said in an email. “I was cast in three shows in college including Harold Hill in “The Music Man.” I directed two college shows: “The Giver” and “Guys and Dolls.” Since graduation in 2016, I’ve been a part of a handful State Street productions including the direction of “The Glass Menagerie.”

Because of its popularity and that its a comedy, “The Odd Couple” was a good fit for SSTC’s spring production.

“The shows we put on each season are selected by a program committee once a year,” Kuester said. “We have traditionally done a smaller-cast play every spring, usually a comedy. We felt “The Odd Couple” is well-known story, and especially with the revival of the television show, we thought it would draw a large crowd.”

Submitted photos Above: Kent Menzel (left) plays Felix and David Holmes (seated) is Oscar in the State Street Theater Company’s performance of The Odd Couple.

The experienced cast is one that Kuester has enjoyed working with and has made his job easier.

“Every member of this cast has been in numerous productions, with experience of love of community theater under their belts,” he said. “I have worked personally with over half of them and I am pleased to even have a cast member from the Mankato Community Theater joining us in this production. The whole cast works together like a family and despite busy weekday schedules, have been hard working and dedicated to the show.”

The play will be fun for anyone who enjoys a good comedy.

“Laughs, lots of them,” Kuester said. “Neil Simon does a great job of combining witty one-liners with a little bit of slap stick humor to make a great comedy. At times, I’m even having trouble getting my cast to keep a straight face. This is also a very relatable show. Everybody knows someone in their life that’s either an “Oscar” or a “Felix.”