A Romp in the Park

From the familiar opening theme song of this production of Neil Simon´s Barefoot in the Park, you know you are in for a fun evening. And it doesn´t disappoint.

Starting with the endearing Harry Pepper character played with quiet charm by Kyle Kelley, the first play of the 2009 season by Glendale Centre Theatre is a winner. The lovable telephone repairman is hilariously out of breath from the five-flight climb up to the newlywed´s first apartment in New York City, six flights if you count the front stoop.

The part of Corie Bratter, the effervescent bride, is zestfully played by former model, Abigail Kochunas. She brings breathless energy to the part even without climbing all those stairs.

Corie´s buttoned-downed husband, Paul Bratter, played by talented Michael McKiddy, is a hoot after that long climb up those stairs, followed by a stifling kiss from his new bride, and the gasp for air that follows.

The Glendale Centre Theatre is known for its wide range of vintage costumes. This production keeps with the 1960´s era clothing and Corie´s mother, Ethyl Banks, played beautifully by Stephanie Jones, nearly steals the show with her fur-trimmed coat, pillbox hat, and fabulous one-liners.

Rounding out the small cast is the delightful Dean Ricca playing Victor Velasco, the wildly eccentric man who lives in the attic. Ricca is charming and "a thoroughly nice fellow," as he often says in defense of his rather colorful lifestyle.

The engaging plot finds Corie trying to set her widowed mother up with this "thoroughly nice fellow" on a blind date. Paul freaks at the thought. He says: "Velasco wears a kimono and sleeps on a rug. Your mother wears a hair net and sleeps on a board."

In order to loosen her mother up, Corie has her mom down one of her "little pink pills" with a martini, followed by a scotch chaser and then a few Ouzos at a wild restaurant on Staten Island. Paul carries his mother-in-law on his back up the stairs to the apartment. Now they are both exhausted. Mrs. Banks says it´s like she "died and went to heaven, but had to climb up."

The laughs keep coming "the morning after" when Mrs. Banks finds herself in that kimono having spent the night in the attic with Mr. Velasco. The explanation will have you rolling in the aisles.

But the heart of the play is the battle between the "stuffed shirt" and the "free spirit." Paul is too proper. Corie is immature. Corie says he is a watcher and she is a doer.

Paul resents the implication and swiftly drinks himself into a state that causes the new bride to scream for a divorce. Now Paul is in his element. He is a lawyer. He knows the paperwork. Now he´s the doer. Then he has another drink.

Soon Paul's inhibition is gone, and so are his socks. It looks like somebody went barefoot in the park after all.

But mom has the sweetest line in the play when she imparts a little wisdom to her impetuous daughter, "Give up a little of yourself for the other."

The play runs through February 7, 2009, at the Glendale Center Theatre, 324 N. Orange, Glendale, CA. Tickets are reasonable. Season Tickets are even better. Contact the theater at: www.glendalecentretheatre.com.