BAREFOOT IN THE PARK @ ENSEMBLE THEATRE KIRRIBILLI

mia-lethbridge-jake-speer-and-georgie-parker-in-barefoot-in-the-park-photo-by-clare-hawley-54-1

Production photography by Clare Hawley.

When the invitation came through asking me if I wanted to spend a couple of hours in this play’s world, I emailed back my acceptance straight away- Of-course I would relish the opportunity to experience the world of ‘Barefoot’ again, especially when the production was ‘in the hands’ of a Company as capable as the Ensemble is.

I went on opening and had a great time. Mark Kilmurry’s production served the play well. It felt so good to be in the company of these colourful characters again, deftly played by a strong cast.

Two fine young actors, Mia Lethbridge and Jake Speer, reprise the roles of Corie and Paul made famous by Jane Fonda and  Robert Redford in the classic film adaptation. Lethbridge captures Corie’s vivacious, high spirited nature, and Speer has a good handle on Paul’s conservative, anxious predisposition. Corie and Paul, in true Simon tradition, really are an ‘Odd Couple’.

Jamie Oxenbould, with his wonderful comic skills, is well cast as the flummoxed, incredulous Bronx telephone repair man who, after an endless climb up zillions of stairs, finally makes it to the front door of the apartment, in a breathless state close to death.

Two of our finest veteran performers, Georgie Parker and Daniel Mitchell, leave good imprints on their roles, with Georgie giving a warm performance as Corie’s  good natured mother, Mrs Banks, and Daniel very winning as the wildly eccentric Victor Velasco. The scene where they cross paths again in Corie and Paul’s apartment after their ‘midnight’ adventures was one of this productions’ highlights.

This cast perform their shtick on a very fine set designed by Alicia Clements, Renata Beslick makes the right choices from the wardrobe department, the stage is well lit by Scott Allan, and some choice music comes through via Alistair Wallace.

Whilst watching the performance a favourite poem came to mind, Nadine Stairs’ If I Had My Life To Live Over. The  closing stanza goes :-

‘I’ve been one of those people who never goes anywhere/without a thermometer, a hot water bottle/a raincoat and a parachute./If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have./If i had my life to live over/I would start barefoot earlier in the spring/and stay that way later in the fall/I would go to more dances./I would ride more merry-go-rounds./I would pick more daises.’

Using poetic licence, I would just change one of the lines to read-‘I would start  walking barefoot in the Park earlier in the spring.’

Spring has arrived. It’s time to see BAREFOOT IN THE PARK playing at the Ensemble until October 8.