Clark & Johnson Make an Odd Couple

Some plays never go out of style. When Neil Simon's Odd Couple first took the stage in 1965, the idea of two divorced men moving in together was rather radical. While the concept is no longer new, the lessons they learn about friendship and personal space still hold true for relationships of many types. Weather, work, and family have made the rehearsal schedule for this show short and fast. Fortunately, the two fellows playing these characters at odds with one another are seasoned veterans of the theatre who are comfortable working together. Elvin Clark and Mike Johnson agreed to meet for dinner before rehearsal so I could find out a little more about their history with Tryon Little Theatre.

Elvin, how long have you been involved with Tryon Little Theatre?
Elvin: Since 1982 or so, about a year after I moved to Tryon. There was a seven year gap when we were living in Connecticut.

Why did you get involved?
Elvin: I auditioned for Fiddler on the Roof in Rutherfordton to fill time after I got divorced. I was a bottle dancer. I had a lot of time at that point in my life and I'd always loved the show. Then I moved to Tryon and went to a show at Tryon Fine Arts Center. My future wife, Connie was in that show and I auditioned for the next one. Years later we did shows together and ended up together.

What else do you do?
Elvin: I have been a computer consultant for 20 years and have a new company that does virtual tours for real estate companies and for sale by owner properties. Basically anything real estate related can be the subject of Found It Virtual Tours. I was tired of working on computers.
I directed the first show at the TLT Workshop, Lost in Yonkers. Last year work kept me from the theatre. Often there are work conflicts. Directing they need to know a year ahead, but I have no way right now to schedule with work a year ahead.

What brought you back to this show?
Elvin: Right now I have no work. I have work coming in February that will keep me busy the rest of the year. Also, twenty years ago I directed the female version of the Odd Couple.

How is it to be on the "other side?"
Elvin: Sue Hipps who played Olive (the female version of Oscar) was a dear friend and 30 year stalwart of TLT. She played my mother in the first TLT play I did and we kept that relationship over the years. Often when I'm saying the lines I hear her saying them. I think about her a lot.
A lot of lines are already identical and I know them because I've heard them so many times even though that was 20 years ago.

What's the hardest thing for you working on this show?
Elvin: The energy level is so high, and I'm not as young as I used to be. It's really a work out, but a lot of fun.

At this point Mike Johnson slips in and joins us after feeding his family and rushing over. Mike, I know you don't want to talk about work, but the schedule has been impacted by your work schedule. How have you juggled that?
Mike: I used all my sick calls for the year in order to rehearse. Of course February is slow, but right now they're trying to get people to work extra hours.

Mike, why did you start working with TLT?
Mike: Four and a half years ago my family moved to Tryon and I looked up the auditions. I hadn't done anything in years, but I didn't know anybody in town and it seemed like a good way to meet people. I ended up doing Three Murders.

What has been the hardest thing working on this show for you Mike?
Mike: Lines. Maybe I'm getting older. In 1975 I was in a play with an 80 year old and got impatient with how long it took her to get her lines, and now here I am struggling.

So, you had done theatre before moving here?
Mike: Yeah. It started out all about football. I needed a C average to play and my junior year I was getting a D in English. Mr. Carp made me a deal. I'd get a C if I was in the school play. So Arsenic & Old Lace was my first show. Later, after I'd married, we lived in Franklin, Indiana, a small college town. Anytime they needed an old guy at the college they called me. I did School for Husbands and Dearly Departed among others.

Elvin: Didn't we figure out we'd both played Pseudolus in Forum?
Mike: Yeah.
Elvin: When I first came to Tryon I was the male ingénue for about five years.
Mike: I think I played a male ingénue in college for a bit while I had a full head of hair and such.
Elvin: Any idea how many shows you've done?
Mike: No idea.
Elvin: Me either. Mike and I were last in To Kill a Mockingbird together.
Mike: He spit at me.
Elvin: This time I throw water in his face.

Do the two of you identify with these characters?
Elvin: I am this character. Come to my house and you'll see the same thing. Just ask my wife.
Mike: I guess we're all a little anal retentive. Before I was married I was a slob, but since then I've become more organized. I washed the sheets today.

Do you two enjoy working together?
Elvin: Yeah.
Mike: When I'm there.
Elvin: We're not over-rehearsed.
Mike: Who knows what's going to happen opening night.
Elvin: At least we can trust one another to pull ourselves through it.

Tryon Little Theatre will present the Neil Simon's The Odd Couple directed by Donna Everett Feb 7-10th at the TLT Workshop at 519 S. Trade Street. Tickets can be purchase from the TLT Box Office 11am-1pm Mon-Fri or by calling 828-859-2466.