Barefoot in the Park
Written by Neil Simon
Directed by Josh Johnson
Chemically Imbalanced, 1422 W. Irving Park (map)
thru Oct 9 | tickets: $15 | more info
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Opposites attract in the ‘Park’
Chemically Imbalanced Theater presents
Barefoot in the Park
Review by Lauren Whalen
It’s widely reported that the first year of marriage is the hardest. For Corie and Paul Bratter, drama begins on day seven. Luckily for the audience, Chemically Imbalanced Comedy’s production of Neil Simon’s charming classic Barefoot in the Park brings humor and heart to the trials of young marriage, thanks in large part to its fiercely funny cast.
With its content housewife protagonist and copious, consequence-free alcohol consumption, Barefoot in the Park is very much a period piece. DJ Reed’s costume design illustrates the early 1960’s with aplomb, using bright tones and loud patterns to convey Corie’s exuberant spirit and muted colors and straight lines for the reserved Paul. Doo-wop music is piped into the space before and after the show and during intermission, extolling the ups and downs of love with peppy beats and catchy lyrics. The old-fashioned timbre of the script is often endearing, though at two hours runs a bit long for a comedy. At times the pacing drags and the slow movements of a first act set change leave a lot to be desired.
What really distinguishes Barefoot in the Park is Josh Johnson’s skilled direction of a terrific ensemble. The play’s female lead is more challenging to portray than most realize: a less skilled actress can easily turn Corie’s infinite whimsy into annoying shrills. Thankfully, Graber interprets Corie with such an infectious joy that the audience can’t help but giggle along. With his perpetual worry lines and ramrod-straight posture, Bays’ Paul is a perfect counterpart, believably head over heels for his wife but struggling to rein in her naïve optimism. A touching Act II scene between Bays and the sweetly subtle MacGregor spotlights Paul and his mother-in-law as true kindred spirits, with much more in common than their devotion to Corie. Murphy brings a Boris Badenov-esque flair to neighbor Victor, and Dennis Schnell’s brief turn as telephone repairman Harry is equally silly and serious, reflecting the personalities of the two main characters.
A hapless husband, a bubbly wife, a shy mother-in-law and a beret-sporting squatter with a muddled accent interact in wacky ways: even in its darker moments, Barefoot in the Park is a live sixties sitcom. And like an old school Nick at Nite rerun, the play’s lighthearted aura is deeply comforting. Sure, the decade itself was one of political unrest, innocence lost and racism and sexism confronted. But Barefoot in the Park’s bouncy narrative evokes a fond nostalgia for an era gone by, even for those who weren’t born until decades later. Laughter never goes out of style.
Rating: ★★★
Chemically Imbalanced Comedy’s Barefoot in the Park continues through October 9th at Chemically Imbalanced Theater, 1422 W. Irving Park (map), with performances Thursdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased online at BrownPaperTickets.com. More information at CIComedy.com. (Running time: 2 hours with 10-minute intermission)
All photos by Nick Quinn
artists
cast
Eric Bays (Paul Bratter), Sarah Rose Graber (Corie Bratter), Laura MacGregor (Mother), Gary Murphy (Victor Velasco), Dennis Schnell (Telephone Repair Man)
behind the scenes
Josh Johnson (Director), Sarah Borer (Stage Manager), DJ Reed (Costume Design), Nick Quinn (Scenic/Lights/Prop Design), Drake LaMonica (Poster Design), Farrell Walsh (Artistic Director)
