Written by Neil Simon
Directed by Jeff Press
Nine Performances: May 7- – May 29, 2021
Sunday Matinee: May 23, 2021
Boring Paul and optimistic and impulsive Corie Bratter are newlyweds in every sense of the word. Paul is a straight-laced lawyer and Corie a romantic free-spirit; nevertheless, opposites attract and the two are wild about each other. For their first home, they live in an apartment on the top floor of a brownstone in Manhattan. It may be small and a six-flight climb, the heating may be busted and snow maybe falling through the skylight, but it’s home. Corie is optimistic about their future together, while Paul, the more anxious and grounded half of the couple, worries about the various flaws in the apartment, such as the hold in the skylight, their leaky closet, and the lack of a bathtub.
After a six-day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie’s loopy mother. During the visit, Corie attempts to set her conservative, widowed mother up with their eccentric, bohemian neighbor Mr. Velasco. A wild night ensues, one that highlights just how different Corie and Paul are.
During the course of four days, the couple learns to live together while facing their differences and the usual daily ups-and-downs. Corie wants Paul to become more easy-going: for example, to run “barefoot in the park”. The young couple must learn how to accept and embrace their differences as they learn that marriage is no easy walk in the park.