July | 2020 | Ashland Theatre

Rick Robinson and Stephen Kline play Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar in “The Odd Couple” on stage at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre through Sept. 6, 2020. In Neil Simon’s hilarious comedy, mayhem ensues when two friends with opposite personalities move in together. I visited with Robinson and Kline on Zoom.

EH: What’s the significance of laughter?

RR: It is good medicine. I think it’s something that’s missing during this difficult, heavy, weighty time. It’s good for your soul and good for your health.

EH: What’s the chemistry between Felix and Oscar?

RR: It’s sort of a bro-mantic comedy. There’s tumult. And the chemistry between the two characters is as important as in a romantic comedy.

SK: What’s unique about the two men is that they have gone through the same experience of separation, but they have responded in two completely different directions. The Yin and Yang is what helps them help each other with what they’ve been through. Continue reading ‘The Odd Couple’ stars call play a ‘bro-mantic comedy’ →

Oregon Cabaret Theatre is opening for theater and dining. I chatted with Artistic Director Valerie Rachelle one recent morning on Zoom.

VR: We are opening July 16. We got the green light from the state of Oregon and the governor’s office, that live theater can happen here. They have guidelines that we are going to follow. Since we have restaurant seating, it’s a lot easier for us to have parties together that can then socially distance from everyone else. I’m so glad that we have our beautiful, lovely, large theater of 6,100 square feet, because we can really distance people. The third row of the audience is now our front row. The patrons are 12 feet in all directions from the stage, and then six feet around each other to separate the parties. The restaurant will be functioning.

We have permission from the state that actors don’t have to wear masks on stage during the show, but we are going to ask that the audience members do wear their masks while the actors are on stage. Continue reading Oregon Cabaret Theatre rolls with the punches →