Nothing 'Odd' About Ott Acting

If you follow Cobb politics, then you know that when it comes to business of the county, East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott doesn’t play around. But that hasn’t stopped Ott from channeling his inner thespian this month.

“Don’t ask me why, but I have been asked to appear in a play at The Strand,’’ Ott told attendees at a Vinings Business Association luncheon this week. “I’m the only one in the cast who’s never been in a play and I actually have a speaking part.’’

Ott is part of cast of community leaders who are set to bring a story of mismatched roommates and a lot of humor to the Earl Smith Strand Theatre beginning next week with Neil Simon's The Odd Couple.

This comedy classic 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.

Members of this cast have graciously donated their time and energy to this show, to help The Strand kick off 2012 fundaraising. The two main characters will be played by Van Pearlberg, deputy chief assistant district attorney at Cobb Judicial Court, and Bert Reeves, attorney at Turner, Bachman & Garrett LLC.

The cast also includes Ott; Kim Gresh, president of SA White Oil Co.; Cassandra Buckalew, owner of The Historic Marietta Trolley; Steve Imler, retired businessman; Murray Sarkin, a local actor: and Andrew Cole, Strand's events and bar manager.

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. Once again Earl Reece, the executive director of The Strand, will direct the performance.

"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 a press release.

The show times will be: Friday, January 13 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, January 15 at 2 p.m.; Friday, January 20 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, January 21 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, January 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 and for more information, tickets, or to join The Strand's email list, visit www.EarlSmithStrand.org or call the box office at 770-293-0080. The box office is located at 117 North Park Square, Marietta, and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and two hours before the show.