Neil Simon – The Odd Couple – Mimeographed Acting Script 1964

Quarto. Original red wrappers, the upper cover lettered in gilt with title and the imprint “Studio Duplicating Service, Inc.” 140 mimeographed leaves printed on rectos only (with additional leaf numbered “3-9A” in Act III), secured with two brass screw brads.

An early mimeographed acting script and bears the name of Broadway producer Saint-Subber on the title page; Saint-Subber; he would go on to produce seven of Simon’s plays.

Preceding the first published edition (New York: Random House, 1966), this script contains significant textual variations. Notably, while the original Boston Colonial Theatre production omitted the Pigeon sisters in Act III, the present version includes Cecily Pigeon in that act, though in a markedly different textual form from the later published play. The Broadway production proved a landmark success, earning Simon a Tony Award and leading to the celebrated film adaptation.

Wrappers with some creasing and a small internal tape repair to the front panel. A very good copy of a rare and important pre-publication script.

A classic American comedy about mismatched roommates Felix Ungar, obsessively neat, and Oscar Madison, cheerfully slovenly. Inspired by Simon’s brother, the play explores friendship, divorce, and personality clashes with sharp wit and warmth. A major success, it won a Tony Award and was later adapted into a popular 1968 film and television series.