June is the month for romance and weddings and the Ivoryton Playhouse is opening its summer season with one of the theatre's sweetest odes to young love and commitment. The classic comedy, Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon, sparkles with lively wordplay and laughs as well as delightful characters who find joy amid inspired lunacy.
The original Broadway production, directed by
Mike Nichols, opened October 23, 1963, with the four lead roles taken by actors
Elizabeth Ashley (Corie),
Robert Redford (Paul),
Mildred Natwick (Mrs. Banks), and
Kurt Kasznar (Victor Velasco). The play was nominated for three 1964 Tony Awards, and
Mike Nichols won the award for Best Director. The show ran for 1530 performances, closing on June 25, 1967, making it
Neil Simon's longest-running hit, and the tenth longest-running non-musical play in Broadway history. But most people today would be more familiar with the movie starring
Robert Redford and
Jane Fonda.
Paul and
Corie Bratter (
Sean Patrick Hopkins* and Kathleen Mulready*) are newlyweds in every sense of the word. He's a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer and she's a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. Their new apartment is her most recent find-too expensive with bad plumbing and in need of a paint job. After a six day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie's loopy mother, (
Katrina Ferguson*) and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic, Velasco (
Buzz Roddy*), where everything that can go wrong, does. Paul just doesn't understand Corie, as she sees it. He's too staid, too boring and she just wants him to be a little more spontaneous, running "barefoot in the park" would be a start.
The New York Times called it "A bubbling, rib-tickling comedy". It's the perfect start of a summer of love in Connecticut!
Barefoot in the Park is directed by
Bruce Connelly who was last seen here as P.T. Barnum in Barnum. Set Design is by Rachel Reynolds; Lighting Design by Aaron Bresky; Costume Design is by Vivianne Lamb.
Wednesday evenings are "Martini Nights" - free martini at the Ivoryton Tavern with your ticket; Talkback with the cast -Thursday, June 16, - the cast will join the audience after the show to answer questions and talk about the production and the process.
Barefoot in the Park opens on June 8th and runs thru June 26th for 3 weeks. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children and are available by calling
The Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at
www.ivorytonplayhouse.org (Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.)
The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.
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