‘The Odd Couple’ set for Fremont Opera House

It wasn’t a difficult choice for Dylan Laufer. 
 
The Fremont man wanted an entertaining play for his Fremont Opera House directorial debut. He thinks he found it with Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. 
 
“My thought process with it was that the general demographic of people that tend to come to the opera house were born in the 1960s or 70s,” Laufer said. “They are familiar with “The Odd Couple” back when it was in syndication. I just thought I’d put on a show that would appeal to the general demographic. I thought people would be very receptive to it, especially since it is a comedy. I personally think the show is hilarious. Neil Simon is a fantastic writer in general and it is appealing to all generations.” 
 
Laufer, who performed on the opera house’s stage in “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” in February, said he approached executive director Lee Meyer last fall about putting on more plays at FOH.
 
“I pitched the idea to Lee that I wanted to start putting on shows for the opera house as a means of trying to create more awareness for it and make theatre more a regular thing in Fremont,” he said. “I thought I’d help by directing shows or participating in shows, helping in any way that I can.”
 
Laufer also talked to the FOH board of directors who gave their blessing to “The Odd Couple” project. All of the proceeds from the show go to the opera house. 
 
“The whole purpose of me doing shows for the opera house was specifically to benefit them entirely,” Laufer said. 
 
Laufer, a 2020 Midland University graduate, directed a one-act play in college, but this is his first venture with a full-length play. 
 
“There has certainly been a learning curve, but it has been enjoyable,” he said. “I’ve taken a lot of cues from my previous directors like Lee Meyer and Dan Hays at Midland and put in my own little curves to everything.”
 
Noah Loux, a Midland University graduate from Omaha, plays the gruff, sloppy Oscar while Jeff Talkington of Fremont is the neat and neurotic Felix. 
 
The poker-playing buddies include Laufer as Murray the cop, Metropolitan Community College student Christopher Jackson as Roy, Fremont Public Schools teacher Geoffrey Semrad as Speed and Fremont stage veteran Doyle Schwaninger as Vinny. 
 
Cecily and Gwendolyn Pigeon, the potential love interests for Felix and Oscar, are played by Fremonter Molly Knosp and Jacqueline Opheim, respectively. 
 
“I think everyone gets along very well,” Laufer said. “The show has such a good vibe to it that it is hard not to enjoy being around others. I think the chemistry is there and everyone plays off of each other’s strengths and weaknesses beautifully.”
Tickets are available by calling 402-297-3299 or online at https://tinyurl.com/2P9CWV9P. Tickets will also be sold at the door.