Actors Studio takes a walk ‘barefoot’ in the park

October 10-27th, 2012

Described in The New York Times as “a bubbling rib-tickling comedy”, Barefoot in the Park is one of the sweetest odes to young love and commitment ever written for the theatre. Newlyweds Corie and Paul’s first experiences of married life as they settle into their tiny apartment and negotiate their opposing personalities, their eccentric neighbors and a meddling mother, provide the perfect backdrop against which Simon’s lively word games play out with warmth and nostalgia.

“Barefoot in the Park is a great old-fashioned romantic comedy.” explains director James Long, speaking on what drew him to this cheerful comedy. “ Neil Simon has created real characters you can’t help but care about and writing that’s simply brilliant”, he adds.

Barefoot in the Park premiered on Broadway in 1963 picking up a slew of award nominations, secured Mike Nichols a Tony Award for Best Director of a Play and is Simon’s longest running Broadway show to date. Often recognized as one of the most successful playwrights in American history and an icon of film and theatre, Simon’s work continues to resonate with audiences seduced by his sharp one-liners and ability to stage everyday experiences honestly and humorously. While the conflict Simon’s creates between Corie’s enthusiastic carefree approach to life and Paul’s buttoned-up conservatism speaks to the wider social–political landscape of the decade, Barefoot in the Park is at its heart a winsome comedy with sitcom sensibilities.

Neil Simon drew inspiration for Barefoot in the Park from his own real-life experiences of early married life to his wife Joan in their tiny brownstone apartment in New York. Barefoot in the Park turned hit film with the 1967 release of the movie starring Jane Fonda and Robert Redford.

Rene Fulford is the free-spirited Corie and Nathan Flavel, the straight-laced Paul Bratter. Rene in no stranger to the role of Corie having played the role in the original production at Kelowna Actors Studio almost 10 years ago .  Other KAS roles include Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (opposite Nathan),  a company member of both Godspell and the Wizard of Oz and the role of Lily in our original production of Annie.  Nathan recently appeared in the title role of Che in Evita, the Baker in Into the Woods and Max in Lend Me A Tenor.

We are thrilled to welcome back Actors Studio veteran and former company member Vivian Hughes as the meddling mother, Mrs. Ethel Banks and the talented Ron Green in the role of the colorful and eccentric neighbor Victor Velasco.  Brandon Shalansky portrays the telephone man.
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