Drama Guild Hits One Out Of The Park With ‘Barefoot’

          The Chatham Drama Guild and director Pam Banas have hit a home run with their production of Neil Simon’s longest-running hit, the 1963 Broadway romantic comedy “Barefoot in the Park.” 
          If you haven’t yet made your way to the Chatham Drama Guild this season, be sure to get tickets for this fun ride along the bumpy transition of a newlywed couple from their honeymoon to married life in a rather unusual first apartment.  
          Corie Bratter (Nicole Gardner) is an adorable, energetic new bride who sees her new marital home — a fifth floor walk-up (not counting the stoop) at the top of a brownstone on East 48th Street in New York City — through the rose-colored glasses of youth and new love. So what if there’s no heat, no bathtub, no furniture, no glasses, and a hole in the skylight lets in the February snow? The bedroom is exactly large enough to squeeze in a single bed — if the furniture ever arrives — as long as they never open the closet. And I’m sure the neighbors aren’t really as bizarre as they seem, are they? Corie’s new attorney bridegroom, Paul (Matthew Gardner, no relation), isn’t so sure about the place. After all, he’s got a court case in the morning, and where is he supposed to look over his legal briefs? 
          The fun begins with the arrival of gasping telephone repairman Harry Pepper (Todd Cashdollar) to install the couple’s phone, followed by a wheezing delivery man (Mike Guzowski) bearing wrapped wedding gifts from Corie’s mother (Deborah Mahaney). The five floors of stairs (not counting the stoop) are just about all the characters can take, and the recurring entrances of exhausted and gasping characters had the opening night audience in stitches. The only one who seems unaffected by the climb is the sprightly Corie, who is buoyed by newlywed optimism, at least at first. 
          The eccentricity of apartment life reaches a new level with the arrival of quirky upstairs neighbor Victor Velasco (Richard Wilber) who lives in apartment 6A. But the building has only five floors, so where exactly does Mr. Velasco live? Does he really have to access his apartment through the Bratters’ bedroom window? And most importantly, is he single? After all, Corie’s widowed mother has room for a man in her life, and Corie isn’t above playing matchmaker. 
          Chatham Drama Guild has hit one out of the titular park with this production. Every single member of the cast makes the most of their time onstage, and the opening night crowd responded enthusiastically, filling the theater with laughter. If you are looking for a romantic comedy in which every performer hits their mark every time, you simply can’t do better than this cast. They absolutely shine. 
          Don’t miss “Barefoot in the Park” on the Chatham Drama Guild stage through Oct. 6, featuring direction, costumes, props and set dressing by Pam Banas; Nicole Gardner as Corrie Bratter; Matthew Gardner as Paul Bratter; Deborah Mahaney as Corie’s mother; Richard Wilber as Victor Velasco; Todd Cashdollar as telephone repairman Harry Pepper and Mike Guzowski as a delivery man. The excellent set design is by Scott Hamilton; sound design by Don Howell; lightboard and sound operation by Rachel Banas; set construction by Scott Hamilton, Mike Guzowski, Derek Mickle and Cole Alexander; advertising and poster design by Rachel Walman; program by Anna Marie Johansen; sign painted by Rachel Banas.

Details: 
“Barefoot in the Park”
The Chatham Drama Guild, Crowell Road, Chatham

Through Oct. 6
Information and reservations: 508-945-0510, chatdramaguild.org