Then, in 1983, Simon began to win over many of his critics with the introduction of his autobiographical trilogy that chronicled his stormy childhood, his brief Army time, and the beginning of his career in television. Suddenly the critics began taking him more seriously. He followed up in 1991 with Lost in Yonkers for which he won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
During the course of his career, Simon has won three Tony Awards for Best Play (one being The Odd Couple), has had more plays adapted to film than any other American playwright and, in addition, has written nearly a dozen original screenplays himself. He received Academy Award nominations for some of his screenplays and he has also been the recipient of the Antoinette Perry Award, the Writers Guild Award, the Evening Standard Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Shubert Award, the Outer Circle Award, and a Golden Globe Award. .
Examining the often-confusing dynamics of friendships which sometimes cross the boundaries of traditional relationships, is the genius behind Neil Simon's work in both the original "The Odd Couple," and the Female Version. The roommates simultaneously compliment and criticize each other toward the verge of insanity and back again to the security of love and acceptance we all so desperately crave. The play touched on breakups and divorce. It portrays the craziness that ultimately ensues with the flipping of emotions and the loyalty and love of those who support us through thick and thin. .
This play touched on many of the issues Americans were facing in the 1980s. The incidences of divorce in the United States reached more than one million during each year of the 1980s. The number of divorces in the 80s doubled from the number of divorces in the 60s and 70s. There were many changes that took place in society during the 1980s that increased the rate of divorce. For example, legally there was a shift from fault to no-fault divorce.