A Lovely Time to Go “Barefoot in the Park”

Movies may seem to be my main passion, but before movies, the theatre was the start of my creative journey, and I was lucky enough to watch the newest theatrical performance by the Hub City Theatre Company: “Barefoot in the Park”. The show debuted on Jan. 17th at Turntable Coffee Counter and is directed by Crista Beals, the Artistic Director of the Hub City Theatre Company. More performances include Jan. 18th at 7:30 p.m., Jan 19th at 3 p.m., Jan. 24th and 25th at 7:30 p.m., and one final performance on Jan. 26th at 3 p.m.

The show tells the story of Corie and Paul Bratter, a newlywed couple, as they experience their first few days in their new apartment in New York City. After visits from Corie’s mother, Ethel, and their upstairs neighbor, Victor Velasco, Corie decides to set her mother and Velasco up together. This leads to shenanigans with both pairings. The cast features Kasie Smith as Corie, Erik Alexander as Paul, Kristin Klonowski as Ethel, and Jefferson Jones as Velasco.

This was a very fun show to watch. The cast had tremendous chemistry together making me believe their relationships with each other. Specifically the relationship between Corie and Paul, Smith and Alexander both feel as though they are newlyweds. They bounce off each others dialogue so naturally; never missing a beat between each other. Even with slight stumbles in their dialogue, it felt natural with the situation that was happening on stage.

Alexander felt natural in his “stuffed-shirt” character. The way he would carry himself with a straight back felt genuine to the rigidness of Paul’s character. Even when he is involved in the more intimate scenes with Smith, he still carried a sense of seriousness. Smith, on the other hand, had to play the complete opposite. She had to be flamboyant and ready for a new adventure, and I think she did a wonderful job in her performance. Her energy felt genuine every single time she would move across the stage and speak a line of dialogue. She also had to perform a hint of innocence in her character, and she nailed it. My favorite scene between the two was the argument scene in the second act. Both performed multiple levels to the characters, and they never faltered from the characters. They both played their characters wonderfully.

Moving over the Klonowski and Jones, I think they both a tremendous job. Klonowski had to perform Ethel as someone that wanted to look after her daughter, but also not seem as though she’s wanting to look over her daughter’s shoulder. Klonowski did a great job finding that balance whilst also finding the fun in her character. The moments she gets to let loose and have fun were some of my favorite moments for her character. Jones did great as Velasco. Velasco is a character that can skew on creepy, depending on the actor, but Jones made sure it never fell in that camp. He made the character feel genuinely happy to see these people and not someone that is trying to be a freeloader. The chemistry between Klonowski and Jones is a delight to see. You can feel the early uneasiness that leads to genuine friendship.

However, I can’t understate the chemistry between Klonowski and Smith. They play mother and daughter in the play, and you can believe their relationship. Klonowski has a natural motherly quality that leads to her guiding Smith to a good path. Smith returns that love with the love a daughter has for a mother. Their connection, even if it is only seen for a scene or two, feels central to the play, and it helps the characters in the end of the show.

I can’t talk about this show without talking about the multiple designs. The show is set in the 1960s, and everything feels time period accurate. The refrigerator, the coffee maker, the clothes. Nothing in this play feels anachronistic to the time period. Even when waiting for the show to start, to the set changes, to intermission, the show plays 1960s music which helps brings the audience into the time period. I felt transported through time. It was fun hearing that music.

However, with all of these positives, there also comes negatives. During the second act of the show, Oliver Koons, who plays the telephone man in two scenes, levels his voice to where the audience can hear him; however, in first act, there were multiple moments where I could not hear what he was saying and was thinking I was missing context for the story. Even with the intimate space, I felt as though his conversation with Smith was being missed by the audience.

The other negative I have for the show comes from Gavin Richardson, who plays the delivery man in one scene in the first act. In said scene, he has no dialogue but has to act out of breath. I believe he may have gone too over the top with his performance. Early on, I didn’t mind it. As it kept going, I was beginning to think that the gag was too long.

Overall, outside of the two negatives, this was an enjoyable production that I think is held up by strong leads and period accurate costume and set designs. I highly recommend, if you have the time, go watch this show. My score for the show would be at 4 out of 5 stars, an 8 out of 10.

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