I have seen quite a few Neil Simon plays in my time, either on stage, on TV or even on the silver screen, such examples as The Odd Couple, Barefoot in the Park, Sweet Charity, They’re Playing our Song, The Sunshine Boys and of course The Plaza Suite are just a few examples of this prolific writers pen. However I had to hold my hands up to the fact that I was previously unaware of him writing The Odd Couple (Female Version) before visiting this production by Edinburgh based Big Village Theatre Company.

This version was written by Simon in 1986 almost twenty years after the original version, and basically all the characters have had their sex changed. Instead of the boys having a weekly poker night and have female neighbours the Pidgeon sisters, now the girls have Trivial Pursuit evenings and have neighbours Costazuela brothers.

The play is set in Olive Madison’s flat where cop Mickey, Wendy Brindle, somewhat ditzy Vera, Helen Burns, Renee, Rebecca Fairnie, sassy Sylvie, Diane Douglas are expecting Florence Unger to join them as usual but she is posted missing. When eventually she turns up she has been chucked out by her husband and in spite of their alarming differences Olive invites Flo to move in with her.

Olive and Florence are spectacularly portrayed by Lorraine McCann and Helen Goldie, who play their respective characters with skill and style, making use of the superbly written script. There are genuine laughs drawn from the fairly full opening night audience, however such were the number of funny lines occasionally they crashed with the laugh from the previous ones, yet there were still plenty to spare.

Manola and Jesus Costazuela, the Spanish brothers from upstairs are played by Paul McGuigan and Brian Miller, who both make their almost caricature roles likeable and funny, without going over the top.

Although this is a play that is carried by the two leads, all the other roles have vital input into the piece and each remains in character throughout, and the direction by Joe Burns is well drilled. If I was going to be extremely picky, just occasionally the ‘New Yoik’ accents did occasionally slip, but it was of minor importance in the big picture.

The set is simply furnished, yet well constructed, and lighting and sound add to the ambiance and the proceedings.

All in all this was a very enjoyable performance from a good local company, a play that really should be seen no matter if you are a Neil Simon fan or not.

They will be performing in the Edinburgh Fringe once again in August staging the Neil Waldon play ‘Bowels’ check it out at Augustine’ s Venue 152, 9th to 15^th.

BigVillage Theatre company present Neil Simon's 'The Odd Couple (Female Version) at The Bedlam Theatre Edinburgh from 15th to 17th April 2010