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Barefoot In The Park
By Neil Simon
Directed by William Osetek
At Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre
100 Drury Lane
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Call 630-530-0111, tickets $22 - $26
Wednesday at 8 PM
Thursdays at 2 & 8 PM
Fridays at 8:30 PM
Saturdays at 5:30 & 9 PM
Sundays at 2:30 & 7 PM
Running time is 2 hrs 10 min with intermission
Through February 26, 2006
Superb comic actors deliver vintage Simon classic
Neil Simon’s second Broadway hit, Barefoot In The Park, opened in 1963 and ran for 1530 performances winning a Tony Award for director Mike Nichols. Barefoot In The Park firmly established Neil Simon as a master of comedy with his sharp wit, firm plot structure and vivid characterizations of middle class urban dwellers. The original Broadway production featured Robert Redford with Elizabeth Ashley as the newlyweds. (Jane Fonda joined Redford in the hit 1967 film).
Director William Osetek’s energetic direction featured deft usage of Brian Sidney Bembridge’s realistic large sixth floor attic Manhattan walk-up apartment that sports the antiquated fixtures of 1920’s styled NYC apartment complete with a skylight with a broken pane. Elizabeth Ledo is the precious spirited (horny) newlywed bride, Corie, who found the ugly, run-down apartment. She is optimistic that the dump will become “their” place. When her out of shape husband Paul (Rod Thomas) almost passes out from the long six floor climb, Simon makes the place a foil for terrific comedy.
Paul is aghast with each short coming the apartment features (no bath tub, little heat and a tiny bedroom). Corie is a free spirit, Paul a stuff-shirt, quite proper lawyer. Add a zany cosmopolitan Albanian neighbor, Victor (delicious suave Jim McCance) and Corie’s lonely hypochondriac mother (Peggy Roeder with her superb comedic timing) and Neil Simon has the players in place for a hilarious light-weight comedy. Barefoot In The Park is a classic lesson in structuring a comedy. Simon weaves the wacky situations, plays off one incident toward another and smoothly develops funny situations peppered with smart retorts and fun physicality. Combining cute slap stick, door slamming angst, funny drunkenness with manic energy from Corie, Simon’s show unfolds as a roaring explosive comedy. The universal lessons and stellar characterizations deliver a timeless look at newlyweds as they struggle through the initial stages of married life.
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Rob Thomas and Elizabeth Ledo click as the young couple while Dev Kennedy sets the tone early on as the phone installer. Jim McCance’s juicy Victor smoothly helps mother to realize there is life after a daughter leaves the nest.
This show is funny despite the 1960’s references. Simon’s writing is swift, smart and sassy. The cast has perfect comedic timing and enough energy to keep the show rolling from one laugh to another. Elizabeth Ledo and Rod Thomas play off one another marvelously. This shows lands Simon’s humor respectably.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
This show is eligible for a C.S.T. Equity Theatre Award
Talk Theatre in Chicago Radio Show
January 5, 2006
Jeff Recommended
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