THE ODD COUPLE Lane/Broderick

Press reel for the 2005 Broadway revival of Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple," reuniting Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.

[@christopherbush9027]

I’ve always felt that the ridiculously high expectations these two came with post-Producers is the reason this production wasn’t better received by critics. Excellent casting of one of Simon’s best. Thank you Spiderwoman!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Love your comment, so well put, and glad it is up at the top as I expect this one to have its naysayers. When I uploaded this, I did no more than glance at it and for some reason this production looked better than I had remembered it. In any case, had to put something up by Mr. Simon.

[@dabedwards]

This is fantastic! Lane & Broderick make a partnership as effective as Matthau & Lemmon. Contrary to some other comments here, I think Matthew Broderick is a terrific comedy actor, and triumphed in The Road to Wellville. And of course, Nathan Lane is sublime!

[@garylobo348]

Ummm, no they don't. Matthau & Lemmon's performances were iconic. This looks tired and mediocre. Randall and Klugman were also stupendous. I realize the mediums are different, but Broderick just sounds whiny. Lane doesn't fit the part either, as Óscar.

[@christhornycroft3686]

Matthew Broderick hasn’t worked out as a film actor, but his subtle overacting is perfect for stage acting. He’s got tremendous chemistry with Nathan Lane.

[@coasterjudge]

18:38 My all time favorite Neil Simon line. The first time I ever read the play, I was waiting for the streetcar home from the library, I burst out laughing like a maniac, and terrified the little old lady sitting next to me.

[@toonrog9957]

.....and did she threaten to sue you with a jewish lawyer whose daughter who you met last week at a deli while ordering borrst on pumpincikle.................am just wondering..........heh.

[@trevorkeyes6067]

Brilliant

[@willrobinson3662]

Oh, wow. Adult Simba and Timon are in this show.

[@joshbotts3049]

These 2 are very funny great actors this should have been made in to a movie these two are great

[@diegopitbull7580]

The Odd Couple is 1968 a movie with Matthau and Lemmon. There can´t be any other remake. That movie is a classic.

[@garylobo348]

@@diegopitbull7580 I so agree. Matthau was the perfect Oscar and Lemon was brilliant. But I think Randall was even better as Felix. Just my humble opinion.

[@jasminnemcdonald94A]

Well, that felt like a falling piano.

[@DocJamesH]

I saw this live with my Aunt and Cousin. My aunt caught some of the lettuce that Nathan aka Oscar threw into the audience.

[@theresaewald7596]

The set gives me Lavern & Shirley vibes - and I always thought they were a female version of the Odd Couple!

[@ms-vv2gg]

the great Rob Bartlett and his cigar

[@southendonseaarts]

The original film actors are such a hard act to follow.

[@StageRightTheatricals]

An interesting, probably final, look at Nathan Lane playing his "type:" the boorish, low-class Jason Alexander/Larry David type character he was so associated with during the 1990s. After Max Bialystock, he seemed to grow tired of the schtick: most of his appearances since then have featured a prissier, piss-elegant persona that is at least in part intended to be funny because we remember the "original flavor" Nathan Lane.

[@stevenedwards4470]

Makes me miss Randall and Klugman....things just seem "off"

[@josephconsoli4128]

Yes. The mark was hit two times with this classic story. It wasn't going to happen a third time. Compared to Lemmon and Randell, Broderick's performance seems like pure mediocre local theater. Lane is always great, but he fits the Felix character. I can't accept him playing a masculine gruff person. It's like a gay gruff guy! LOL

[@nondescript2892]

This isn't the tv series...the play opened with Walter Matthau and Art Carney....I saw the play with Randall and Klugman when they were way into their seventies....I think I prefer Lane and Broderick

[@3rdand105]

Forgive me, I'm an idiot. At first, Mr. Broderick's interpretation put me off, but as always, I have to remember that he will play the character as he sees fit. In other words, he's not required to be Tony Randall. Once I stopped comparing the Ungers, I thoroughly enjoyed the video. I'm sure folks felt the same way about Tony Randall, having seen Jack Lemmon's performance. Then again, I didn't like the way Ron Glass played the part in the early-80's reboot, either. I guess we all have our favorite Felix.

[@jimcarbo9313]

18:15

[@th2k864]

Really hating Matthew Broderick in this show.

[@MarklovesAngels]

He's stiff and unconvincing and says his lines as if reading them instead of appearing to think of them. No breathes, no pauses and the laugh was phony. Yikes. He almost single-handedly sunk the movie version of the Producers.

[@MLife1972]

@@MarklovesAngels yeah, he sounds like he's at a table read and this is the first time he's read the script

[@SommerPopstar]

It’s ashamed that this production isn’t on dvd

[@garylobo348]

4:47 just perfect comedy. And this is my favorite comedy of all time. The lines from the brilliant Simon are just... Wondrous.

[@solanoscrossoverproduction3930]

Nathan: "Get drunk get angry come on, BREAK THE GODDAMN CUP!!!" 😠 (CRACK!!!) Mathew: "I hurt my arm!" 😭

[@toonrog9957]

just plain noooo ...LANE AND BROADWICK in the opposite roles would be much smoother and better related in each others opposite roles of this...................trust me.

[@lisastallingskeelor3328]

I would have loved to have been in the audience.

[@SommerPopstar]

Lisa Stallings Keelor Ditto

[@WillScarlet16]

Wow, Brad Garrett is a friggin GIANT!

[@garylobo348]

Tiny is 6'8"

[@allys744]

The cast here is pretty accurate from the film: Broderick is Jack Lemmon and Garrett is Herb Edelman

[@OhSankYouDoktor]

This is so well-filmed - a shame the whole thing is not available. I saw Nathan and Matthew in "The Producers" - one of the all-time great Broadway experiences! Sorry I missed this. I understand they switched roles in certain performances, but I cannot see Nathan as Felix or Matthew as Oscar.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

No, they never switched roles.

[@toonrog9957]

The rest of us can, and yes it would fit better by far.....IMO

[@jasminnemcdonald94A]

Nothing more odd than seeing Simba and Timon living together under one roof.

[@allys744]

It’s almost like a spin-off The Producers

[@jasminnemcdonald94A]

@@allys744 Well, that felt like a falling piano.

[@samosullivan1744]

VERY few people can play neurotics better than Broderick!

[@CraigSlivka]

I have been in a number of Neil Simon plays and have always felt he wrote mediocre funny with the potential of his material being hilarious. The comedy variable has always been a director like Mike Nichols or Gene Saks, who understood who to cast and how to bring the material alive in truly funny fashion. I think the Odd Couple is really wrong for both Matthew and Nathan. The directing looks okay which does little to nothing for the material. I think both actors would fare much better in a door slamming farce. You watch Nathan in the birdcage with Robin and you really begin to understand how the right director for a project is crucial. By the way Mike Nicholls did direct the bird cage.

[@LD-ib1hg]

18:07 My favourite moment from the play! Nathan Lane is so great as Oscar!

[@stevenmcnicoll5060]

That’s a couple of hundred dollars saved. Thanks. Nice work.

[@VeracityLH]

Tremendous! Thanks so much for posting!

[@otomodachifan]

I have a bit of an unusual request: do you have or know where to find recordings of the following children's shows - Blue's Clues Live, Disney Junior Live on Tour Pirate & Princess Adventure, Hello Kitty's Fantastical Adventure, This Girl Laughs This Girl Cries This Girl Does Nothing, or any of the TDF Broadway Autism Theatre Initiative shows, and if you could ask someone if they'd be willing to film any upcoming shows from that program? I've been collecting recordings & would like to ask if I can email you a list of what I have. Thanks for your consideration

[@ZidaneWarner]

This production just sums up everything I can't stand about Matthew Broadrick's acting. I find his delivery stilted and awkward. And his comic timing is very off.

[@MarklovesAngels]

Yes. Sadly, a child actor that didn't make the transition well. No presence at all.

[@donhailer4994]

I thought he was great. Perfect for Felix.

[@bmyra]

​@@donhailer4994 Same here.