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The Odd Couple is one of those plays whose basic plot is such a part of our culture that we all think we know the story even if we haven't seen it -- especially if we've not seen or read or heard Neil Simon's original version. There are movies, there are multiple television series based on the play -- some of which take the name and some that simply take the premise -- there is a female version for the stage, and there is even a Saturday morning cartoon from the '70s. The Odd Couple can fairly be called ubiquitous.

Something that you might not know is that it is also excellent.

Neil Simon was prolific, and he wrote many, many wonderful pieces, but The Odd Couple is his best. If you ever get a chance to see the original play performed you must take that opportunity. You will rarely see such a witty, well-written, nearly timeless, and thoroughly tight hour and a half of theatre. It is funny but never schmaltzy. It is insightful but never precious. It dramatic when it needs to be, sad when it needs to be and infuriating when it needs to be. And with all this complexity there is not a wasted word or moment or scene. It is exactly what it needs to be.

In fact, I am going to say that The Odd Couple is one of the best American plays ever written. And it just may be the best American comedy to ever hit the stage.