Neil Simon’s sassy New York Jewish humour makes a welcome return to Northwood as Oaklands Drama Group reprises the female version of The Odd Couple, which it first staged 21 years ago – with seven of the original cast popping up again.

The group returns to this much-loved comedy especially for the 50th anniversary of Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, where they are based.

Director Neville Price, from Bushey Heath, who played one of the couple’s upstairs neighbours first time round, says this production looks set to be even better than the first, which he hadn’t thought possible.

“The rehearsals have been such fun,“ says Neville, 75, who has been in the drama group since it started in 1982. “The atmosphere is great, it’s very exciting. When we first started rehearsals and I heard the way the two leads were playing the roles, in a totally different way to last time, I was absolutely amazed. I suppose I had foolishly expected it to be exactly like it was 21 years ago, but Jackie Bullock and Miriam Chinnick have brought something completely new to it.“

Returning with Neville to the play are his wife Toni Price, who originally played Florence (the female carnation of the Jack Lemmon character in the film version) and who is now in charge of costumes; Avril White, who played Olive, the Walter Matthau character, who is now doing the lighting; Peter Cashman, another neighbour in the first production, is now on the sound desk; Peter Myers was the original director and is now the stage manager; and Marsha Myers and Ingrid Squires were two of the couple’s friends and this time around are two different friends.

“This is probably one of the best-acted productions we’ve ever done,“ continues Neville. “They’re a brilliant cast and really good fun to work with. If the audience enjoys it half as much as we have during rehearsals, it’s going to be great.“

  • The Odd Couple is at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Oaklands Gate, Northwood, May 6 to 10, 8pm. Details: 020 8868 4915, npls.org.uk