'The Odd Couple' entertains

While the title of the new Broadway show, "The Odd Couple," implies pairing two people rather curiously together, it is no mystery why Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick were chosen to star as the leads in a revival of the classic Neil Simon script at the Brooks Atkinson Theater in New York City.

With the duo's record-breaking 2001 success, "The Producers," the mere appearance of their names together has already made "The Odd Couple" one of the most popular shows this season, with a $21.5 million advance in ticket sales — and with good reason. Both Lane and Broderick provide audiences with what they pay to see: undeniable chemistry. Audiences who paid to see a provocative play, however, will be disappointed with a show that is far inferior to the actors in it.

The play, directed by Joe Mantello (who also directed the wildly popular "Wicked"), centers on two divorced middle-aged men, Felix Unger (Broderick) and Oscar Madison (Lane), who begin sharing an apartment after Felix's wife leaves him. Felix, obsessively neat and uptight, soon polarizes Oscar, his disorganized and gambling sportswriter counterpart. It only takes a few short scenes for Felix to begin irritating Oscar and his poker-playing friends, including "Everybody Loves Raymond" star Brad Garrett.

Broderick capitalizes on the opportunity to play an over-the-top nerd, changing his voice to be nasal and high-pitched. Lane similarly embraces Oscar's macho and unhygienic persona as he sports sweat-stained shirts and backward baseball hats and is always accompanied by a scotch in his hand. Famous for his eccentric past roles, Lane succeeds in his role despite his Oscar's "average Joe" nature. Lane's mannerisms, ranging from the way he sits in a chair to his walking style, remain consistently Oscar-like throughout the show without a single break from character.

While the play does an excellent job of showcasing the defining aspects of the characters' personalities, that is the extent of their depth throughout the play. When Oscar invites Felix to live with him in his disgustingly soiled apartment (a set that is highly realistic and well-designed), the audience is left to ask why. We know they are friends, but to what degree? How long have they known each other? Are they even close? The play never delves into the more serious aspects of their friendship.

Despite the show's lack of depth, there are many comedic moments, though they are usually confined to one-liners. Lane and Broderick, however, do a fantastic job of making the most out of these cheap shots. When Felix grows angry at Oscar for badgering him about a plate of spaghetti that Felix spent hours preparing, Broderick, with a completely straight face and in all seriousness, exclaims, "It's not spaghetti. It's linguini!" Broderick never cracks a smile throughout his character's ridiculous rampage.

Fans of Neil Simon, one of most popular and celebrated playwrights of his time, may overlook "The Odd Couple's" simple tale and flat characters; after all, the play is fundamentally very enjoyable.

But the audience's enthusiasm for the play will certainly fade as it progresses — especially after its abrupt conclusion. Yet most viewers will enjoy the play despite its simplicity. "The Odd Couple" provides audiences with something that is sometimes absent in more serious and thought-provoking productions: a pleasant escape from reality.