Strand Brings Local Government, Business Celebs to the Stage

A cast of community leaders bring the story of mismatched roommates and a lot of humor to the this January with Neil Simon's The Odd Couple.

Last year, the Strand-produced performance of The Sunshine Boys was a great success, and the play was performed to a packed house on both nights, according to a press release. This year the cast will be back onstage for two weekends with The Odd Couple.

“Neil Simon's The Odd Couple is one of the universally humorous plays ever written,” Director Earl Reece said in the press release. ”The Strand cast for The Odd Couple consists of some of the most fun and funniest people in Cobb County. This one is destined to be a hit.”

This classic comedy pits the uptight neat-freak Felix against the broody laze of Oscar in a dangerous arena: living together as newly-singled roommates. The Odd Couple is a 1965 Broadway play that has spawned various successful film and television series, as well as other spin-offs and derivative works.

Van Pearlberg, Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney at Cobb Judicial Court, will star in the play as Oscar alongside Bert Reeves, attorney at Turner, Bachman & Garrett LLC, as Felix.

"Anytime one can become involved in a project that benefits the community as well as raises funds for a worthwhile organization is a great civic opportunity,"  Pearlberg said in the release.

The cast also includes Kim Gresh, president of SA White Oil Co.; Bob Ott, ; Cassandra Buckalew, owner of ; Steve Imler, retired businessman; Murray Sarkin, a local actor; and Andrew Cole, 's Events and Bar Manager. Earl Reece will be directing and Cassi Costoulas and members of the Strand staff will act as assistant directors.

The showtimes will be: Friday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 21 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25.