Nothing tests a new marriage quite like sharing a one-bedroom apartment on the sixth floor of a building with no elevator. Or you would think. Add an over-doting mother-in-law and an intrusive upstairs neighbor to the mix, and you might have a recipe for an early divorce — or a night full of laughs at Coronado Playhouse’s (CPH) production of “Barefoot in the Park.”
Neil Simon’s hit Broadway comedy, “Barefoot in the Park,” tells the story of Paul and Corie Bratter, a newlywed couple moving into their first apartment on the sixth floor of a Manhattan walk-up, sans elevator. Paul and Corie, played by Tim Baran and Rachelle George, have diametrically opposed personalities: Paul is a no-nonsense, straight-laced lawyer, and Corie is a free-spirited, emotionally-driven extrovert.
As if the stress of moving weren’t enough, Paul and Corie must also contend with their eccentric new neighbor, Victor Velasco. Flamboyantly portrayed by John Stephen King, Velasco is a nearly destitute man of extravagant, worldly tastes who can only access his apartment by climbing through the couple’s bedroom window. An old-school romantic, Velasco can’t help but attempt courting Corie’s mother, Ethel, played by Kat Fitzpatrick. The cast is rounded out by Manny Cardeiro as the telephone repair man, and Harry, the CPH bartender, as an out-of-breath delivery man.
Director Kara Tuckfield brings the 1963 Broadway hit to life with a lovingly nostalgic production that captures the spirit of the ’60s. The spell begins the moment you walk through the doors, greeted by the transporting tunes of Henry Mancini and Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. It continues as the curtain lifts on a set saturated with authentic mid-century modern furniture and appliances.
Possibly the most striking element of the production is the stunning apparel. Costume designer Jailyn Osbourne clothes the cast in era-appropriate outfits, some wholly original, and others inspired by the 1967 film-adaptation starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. Victor Velasco’s outfits are especially remarkable for their variety of colors and styles; every time he appears on stage, he wears some new lavish outfit, befitting his larger-than-life persona.
King, as Velasco, is the standout of the production delivering his lines with a delightful mix of nuance and panache evocative of Nathan Lane in “The Birdcage.” Yet, while lauded recognition is certainly due for King’s performance, the backbone of the play rests sturdily on George. She remarkably captures Corie’s appetite for life, and has palpable chemistry with the rest of the cast. Her performance has a momentum to it that stretches across the play’s long runtime, so when she finally reaches her breaking point, it feels truly climactic.
And the play certainly feels its length. Despite the film sitting at a concise 90 minutes, this production is a little over 2 ½ hours long with two intermissions. Some stretches of dialogue in the first two acts drag on, especially when many of the jokes rely on pop-culture references too old for even the most aged members of the audience.
Although the script could benefit from some modern touches, the production captures the tone and aesthetic of the 1960’s while conveying the timeless nature of love and romance. Whether between Paul and Corie or Ethel and Victor, “Barefoot in the Park” demonstrates that love reaches across decades; and that, no matter the era, obstacles in its path can always be overcome.
“Barefoot in the Park” runs through March 1. Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday through Saturday, with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $30, with discounts available for seniors over 62, active military, and students. Buy tickets at www.coronadoplayhouse.org
