Garland Civic Theatre’s 51st season got off to a great start with a production of the late Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park.” Directed by Tim Doyle and produced by Josh Hensley, the show is entertaining and filled with laughs. It’s a great way to enjoy an evening out.
The cast includes Zoe Settle and Gabriel Ethridge as Corie and Paul Bratter, a young newlywed couple. Jon Morehouse portrays Victor Velasco, the couple’s eccentric neighbor. Evan Figg portrays the telephone repairman and David Tinney plays the furniture delivery man. All are wonderful in their individual roles and hilarious in the scenes that emphasize the walk up five flights of stairs to the couple’s apartment.
And last, but definitely not least, is Dana Proulx-Willis who steals the show as Ethel Banks, Corie’s mother. The scenes of her exhaustion after the five-flight stair climbs are wonderfully funny and the timing with which she delivers her comedic lines is spot on.
The famous quarrel scene between the newlyweds is also very amusing and contains comments by Corie such as “Six days does not a week make,” that are absurd and, therefore, hilarious.
The story, set in the 1960s, focuses on newlyweds beginning a new life together and the steps and stumbles that go along with that. The husband is conservative and maybe a little boring, while his wife is more fun-loving and adventurous, and they must learn to compromise and appreciate their differences.
The original stage production of “Barefoot in the Park” was in 1963 and it closed in 1967. It was, for good reason, Neil Simon’s longest-running hit. It was nominated for three Tony awards.
The show runs through Sept. 23 with performances on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Call the arts center box office at 972-205-2790 or visit www.garlandartsboxoffice.com to purchase tickets.
Shows are in the small theatre at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland.
Visit www.garlandcivic.org for more information.