Jeff Out Front and Backstage at "Barefoot in the Park"

If you missed Geauga Lyric Theater's production of "Barefoot in the Park" you missed non-stop laughter. Neil Simon writes that way, but this cast brought it to life at a level I've seldom seen.

I've never watched the entire movie which starred Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, but when I do I'll be comparing them to the standard set by the local company's talented actors.

On Mother's Day I arrived at the theater about five minutes late. Five minutes later I was in a tiny walkup apartment in Manhattan, nowhere near the former movie theater on Chardon Square.

Mary Britta Shirring, who is on stage every moment of every scene, makes the ditzy newlywed Corie her very own. She jumps on the couch, bounces off the walls and is wholly engaging as the nutziest of a group of nutsy New Yorkers.

David Malinowski, as her lawyer husband Paul, won my sympathy as Oliver Hardy has--poor fellow, a good sort who is bound at the hip to a train wreck.

Yvonne Pilarrczyk as Corie's mother is a wonderful character actress, a veteran of area stages, and I hope to see her again.

Tim Coles, as the eccentric Hungarian Victor Velasko who lives in an upstairs closet, looked like he wrote, acted and lived the part.

The stage set was simple, about what I would have expected at a community theater, but this cast and this production was as good as any I've seen anywhere. It soared.

Credit to director Ann Hedger for leading this very talented group in knocking it out of the park.

To see the Geauga Lyric Theater and get more information on "Barefoot in the Park"
CLICK HERE