Neil Simon brought the humor of everyday life and relationships to both stage and screen for decades. Just two months after he died at the age of 91, one of his best-loved and earliest successes is coming to the Tinley Park Performing Arts Center.

“The Odd Couple” runs for four performances the weekends of Oct. 19 and Oct. 27.

Simon, who died in August, also wrote such classic plays and screenplays as “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” “Barefoot in the Park” and “Goodbye Girl.” Tinley Park had already planned to stage “The Odd Couple” before Simon died. “It is special” to have the play on stage at this time, said Bob Szczepanski, who co-directed the Tinley Park Park District Community Theater production with Mike Gandy.

“Neil Simon was one of the best playwrights of the 20th Century,” Szczepanski said.

The play revolves around Felix Ungar, heartbroken and suicidal over the breakup of his marriage, moving in with his close friend Oscar Madison, who figured his own return to bachelorhood came with a license to leave the dirty clothes on the floor and dishes in the sink. Oscar’s feet on the table and cigar smoke may be driving Felix to the breaking point, but Felix’s constant clean-up and intense home-making skills may drive Oscar there first.

Simon won a Tony for the play and received an Oscar nomination for his screenplay adaptation.

The Tinley Park production brings the audience back to a New York City apartment for Oscar’s regular poker games, with a little less testosterone than the original. Two more women were added to the cast, with the role of Vinny filled by Joanna Leafblad (the character is “Vi” in this performance) and Speed played by Paige DePaola.

“They both grabbed onto the characters and brought them to life,” Szczepanski said.

Neil Goldman and Bruce Spielbauer co-star as Oscar and Felix, respectively. Sherry Carbonara and Linda Terborg play the Pigeon sisters, twins in this staging. Phil Guay and Stan Staszak round out this cast as buddies Roy and Murray.

Szczepanski said he’s excited about the cast that has come together for these performances. Several have extensive stage and TV experience.

“This is the funniest rendition of the ‘Odd Couple’ I’ve ever been part of,” Szczepanski said, who has performed in several productions of the “Odd Couple” in different roles over the years.

It’s a story that has endured for more than 50 years. It’s a story that reminds people that even two polar opposites can remain bound by friendship.

“There are so many beautiful lines and funny lines,” he said. “I got lucky with this cast as well. … The chemistry is just beautiful.”

Paige Fumo Fox is a freelancer for the Daily Southtown.