GLTG hits 'Barefoot in the Park' in stride
Bob Abelman
Friday May 9, 2008
TGIF-News-Hearald
How complex and demanding can a play be that is easily encapsulated in one sentence: two mistmatched newlyweds, high-spirited Corie and uptight Paul, attempt to settle into their cheap, top-floor apartment as her dour mother and their wacky neighbor drop by? This play is populated with singularly predictable people who are placed in very silly situations and say very clever things, Sit back, relax and let playwright Neil Simon's steady barrage of brilliantly one-liners was over you.
GLTG's approach to this show is particularly conducive and a really good time. The direction by Ann Hedger is seamless, light-handed and allows Simon's dialogue to take center stage. Although "Barefoot in the Park" takes place in the 1960s, Hedger de-emphasizes its historical context so the evergreen reflection of the human condition can unfold without distraction. Jim Koehnle's set is simple, serviceable and exactly what is called for. And the cast consists of talented and immediately likable people.
Mary Shirring, as Corie, is enchanting. During this play's extensive run on Broadway in the 1960s and its short-lived revival in 2006, Corie has been depicted as a free-spirited hippie, an intoxicating airhead and a naive suburbanite in the big city. Shirring finds her own muse and has created a wonderfully impulsive, wholeheartedly optimistic creature. Corie's mother notes that her daughter "jumps into life." Shirring has taken this literally and jumps on furniture, leaps into her husband's arms and bounds about the stage. Her energy is contagious, and her antics keep the show light and frothy.
David Malinowski plays Corie's counterpoint, Paul, her grounded attorney husband. He is no jumper. Malinowski is convincingly cautious and uptight, which opens the door for some very funny business as he systematically addresses each dysfunction of his new apartment and the people who surround it. Malinowski is charming and in possession of excellent comic timing and discipline.
Timothy Coles, as the intrusive neighbor, Victor Velasco, steals the show. He is so interesting as a Bohemian lover of life and all things female that it is easy to overlook that he is too young for the role. His every action is brilliantly choreographed, and his take on every line is ingenious.
Vonnie Pilarczyk beautifully rounds out the cast with her portrayal of Corie's mother, she of the sour-disposition. She is easily exhausted and readily exasperated, and her transformation after a blind date with Victor is one of the many delights this production has to offer.
Aaron Drews takes full advantage of his small role as the telephone installer. He enters only twice but helps fuel the engine that drives this comedy.
This GLTG production of "Barefoot in the Park" only stutters once, during the fight scene late in the show. Here, the director allows reality to breech the comfortable confines of romantic comedy. The argument between Paul and Corie is a bit too mean-spirited for a Neil Simon play. The performers need to be lofting verbal Nerf balls intended to bounce off rather than cause real damage, generating sound and fury but signifying nothing. Malinowski comes in an oversized package that is fun to watch while romping but can be intimidating when riled. Corie's sensible reaction to his wrath is uncharacteristic and sucks the fun out of the show, albeit temporarily.
Predictably, the two kiss and make up and all is right in the world that Neil Simon created. That is a wonderful world to visit, even for just two hours, and the Geauga Theater is the place to find it.