Cast of Barefoot in the Park better than Fonda, Redford

Alwyn Horscroft – The Cobourg Star
- It is sometimes a very good thing to see a play without having read the script or seen the movie beforehand. Several people told me about the movie with Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, and to be quite honest, I suspect that the Northumberland Players cast at the Best Western dinner theatre fitted the play far better than the big stars would have done.
The basic story is that Corrie Bratter and her husband of six days are moving into their rather barren flat, six flights up from the street without an elevator, no heat, and a dripping fanlight. There is also, upstairs, a mountain climbing, accented, reluctantly aging, neighbour by the name of Victor Velasco and Corrie has a widowed mother who wants to see what is going on, how her little girl is coping.
In this production, Corrie, played by Camille Stopps, sets her character before she even says a word. She is obviously a really dizzy, fun loving, possibly infuriating type of girl. Her first piece of unpacking is a wine bottle. She is very much in love with her new husband, and isn't the least bit fazed by the six flights of stairs.
The telephone repair man played by Ron Tollett, carrying his toolbox, arrives exhausted to install the phone. This is a great little character part and Ron does a good job of establishing himself in a short time, complete with a regional accent.
Bruce Stewart plays husband Paul, who also arrives home from work, staggering from the stairs. He hasn't seen the apartment yet, and is a little taken aback, partly by the rent. Paul is an 'up and coming' young lawyer, a bit of a stuffed shirt with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He, too, is very much in love, but with a new case next morning isn't into playing around. As you can imagine, their characters clash in spite of the love, and they get into some pretty fiery arguments. He makes a very credible character.
Corrie's mother, Ethel Banks, played by Moira Cascone, is thoroughly believable. If anything she under-plays the part which makes her even more passable as a mother not wishing to criticize or be thought a fuddy-duddy. A really excellent piece of acting. She too has trouble with the stairs.
Victor, played by Reg Stacey, is determined NOT to have any trouble with the stairs. He is permanently broke and behind with the rent, and therefore uses the Bratters' rooms as a way through to his, since the landlord has long ago locked his door. Victor is another happy-go-lucky character, who, in spite of the age difference, for a time appears more suited to Corrie than is her husband.
This is a well-chosen cast, and although the play can frequently be called a comedy, it also has many true to life moments which require the actors to take the drama seriously and not play for laughs, although the part of Victor does allow for a little more freedom in this respect. I'm not certain how good his accent was, but he convinced me.
Carol Anne Caswell plays a 'delivery person', and she deserves credit for doing a good job in an unrewarding role, but probably more for her work behind the scenes. The others working behind the scenes, too numerous to mention, produced a really efficient performance.
A couple of small notes - if it were possible I would have placed the couch further back, and maybe just slightly angled. One note for the program designer, please don't use that 'Curly MT' font in the program. It can be very difficult to read.
Barefoot in the Park runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until November 5 with a matinee on Saturday, November 4.
ID- 248498