The Nomads Theatre
homewhats on?nomesyoung nomadsbooking informationhistorycontact

Whats On Production Barefoot In The Park (2004)
27th July


News & Reviews
Social Evenings @ 8pm every Tuesday

Nomes Summer workshop - book now!

Visit To Chichester Festival Theatre

What tipples your fancy?

Prompt Corner

News & Reviews
Username:
Password:











Barefoot In The Park (2004)

Click to see a larger picture of Barefoot In The Park Directed By
John Norris

Producer
Brenda Brooks
Production Type
Nomads Production

Production Location
Main Theatre


Genre: Comedy Turnout: 76%

User Rating: (4.5/5 with 4 votes)

Flier Summary:

The setting is winter in New York, an apartment that is close to heaven (only geographically), with heating that is pre-war and no lift. The new tenants are a newly married young couple. The wife is enthusiastic, having just left a rich home and an over protective mother behind (or so she thinks).

The husband is a slightly older newly qualified lawyer, who does not totally share his wife's enthusiasm for their new abode. The situation becomes more complicated by their upstairs neighbour, an interesting but broke middle aged gentleman of mid-European origin with lecherous tendencies, and also by her mother who, like a bad-penny, refuses to go away.

Where does Barefoot In The Park come in? Well come and see Neil Simon's 60s romantic comedy hit and find out.

Box Office Line: 01483 284747

The box office for Barefoot will be open from 2nd October on Saturday mornings (2nd, 9th and 16th October) from 10am - 12:30pm. Please phone if you can't pop in, and we'll ring you back if you leave your name and phone number. This forms part of the Mole Valley Arts Alive festival and we have already started receiving enquiries - so please book early to avoid being disappointed. Tickets for the Saturday night will be limited!


Description:

Neil Simon's classic American comedy with its dry, brittle humour does not age with time; it was first produced 40 years ago and is still as fresh today.

I have been privileged to work with a very talented and ... [more]



Production Dates & Prices:
(Please note Booking Information)

 Date
Time
Price
 
 Monday 18th October 2004
8:00pm
£8.00
FULL HOUSE
 Tuesday 19th October 2004
8:00pm
£8.00
 Wednesday 20th October 2004
8:00pm
£8.00
 Thursday 21st October 2004
8:00pm
£8.00
 Friday 22nd October 2004
8:00pm
£8.00
 Saturday 23rd October 2004
8:00pm
£8.00
FULL HOUSE


Cast: (in programme order)
anna langridge ... Corrie Bratter
Paul Le Blanc Smith ... Paul Bratter
Elaine Burns ... Mrs. Banks
Andrew Hamel-Cooke ... Victor Velasco
Wally Ross Gower ... Telephone Man
Clive Mott ... Delivery Man

Crew: (in programme order)
John Norris ... Director
Brenda Brooks ... Producer
Martin Lawrance ... Stage Manager
Elizabeth Cross ... ASM
Charles Hope ... Lighting Designer
Tim Williams ... Sound Design
David Payne ... Set Design
David Romeo ... Set Construction
Gordon Hilliker ... Set Construction
Hugh Frayne ... Set Construction
Kirsty Clifton ... Set Construction
Rob Fee ... Set Construction
Sarah Thomas ... Set Construction
Tom Thomas ... Set Construction
Jill Evans ... Costume Design
Jennie Hamel-Cooke ... Properties
Amina Langridge ... Properties
Phillip Griffith ... Poster Design
Charles Hope ... Programme Design
Clive Mott ... Front of House Manager
Sarah Thomas ... Box Office


Act1:
Scene 1 Late afternoon in February
Act2:
Scene 1 About 7pm four days later
Scene 2 About 2am the same night
Act3:
Scene 1 The following morning


Official Review:
the review
From the moment newly wed Corrie Bratter (Anna Langridge) put her bunch of flowers in an empty paint pot I knew I was going to enjoy Barefoot in the Park. This was a very funny play with some wonderful directorial touches and lovely characterisation from director John Norris and his cast.

Wally Ross-Gower arrives puffing and panting and clutching his chest quickly establishing the running gag of the play -the Bratter's flat is five flights up. This is a gag which became funnier as the play progressed rather than palling. Clive Mott then gave a most impressive non-speaking cameo as the delivery man who barely regains his breath before having to descend again. By now the audience completely believes in the offstage world helped by a beautifully effective sound effect by Tim Williams of footsteps on the stairs.

Corrie Bratter has boundless enthusiasm for life and Anna Langridge played the part with energy and skill. It would nave been easy for Corrie to become a caricature and lose the sympathy of the audience but Anna's portrayal ensured that we were as frustrated as she was that Paul refused to walk barefoot in the park in the middle of winter. Paul le Blanc Smith must be congratulated - it is hard to believe that this was only his second acting role. His delivery as conservative lawyer Paul Bratter was enhanced by some wonderful facial expressions and body language - I actually gasped in fear as he teetered drunkenly on the window ledge!

Andrew Hamel-Cooke handled the role of bizarre neighbour Victor Velasco with a panache that reflected his wealth of experience and Elaine Burns was wonderful as Corrie's mother, Etnel. This character is probably the most complex presenting a veneer of conservatism through which the potential for letting her hair down is just visible. If not handled correctly then the eventual relationship between her and Victor Velasco would not be credible. Elaine succeeded admirably in striking the right balance.

I enjoyed the entire performance but must particularly mention the scene in which Corrie and Paul row and agree to divorce. The use of the stage and positioning of the characters in relation to the bedroom door was great. The scene had lovely pace and built superbly to the conclusion - snow falling through the roof onto Paul who is trying to sleep on the settee.

Lighting by Charles Hope captured the mood at all times and I really liked the final effect of a dark stage with Paul illuminated on the window ledge. David Payne's set gave just the right feeling of claustrophobia and using the proscenium arch pillar as the chimney for the wood-burning stove was very clever.

This was a fantastic evening's theatre. It was obvious that director and cast were all in tune with the Neil Simon's wonderful script, a factor which is so important in any production. It was also good to see new faces on the Nomad stage, and I hope we will see them again in future productions.


Related News:
Oct 2004 Barefoot in the Park
Oct 2004 BOX OFFICE... BOX OFFICE...
Sep 2004 BOX OFFICE...
Aug 2004 Box Office: Teechers, Play in a Week, Barefoot in the Park
Jun 2004 AUDITIONS: Barefoot in the Park


Recommendations:
Barefoot In The Park [1967]
Barefoot In The Park [1967]
Barefoot in the Park


User Reviews:

No Online Reviews Found


Sponsors:
Bell and Colvill Saab
F. Conissbee & Son
Gardiner & Associates
Horsley Dental Practice
MJ Noyes Ltd - Electrical Contractors
Ramada Guildford/Leatherhead Hotel
Spanna Ristorante Pizzeria Italiano
The Pink Garlic Tandoori Restaurant
TW White & Sons
West Horsley Motor Works Ltd


Errors and omissions on this page may be reported by pressing the button below where they will be examined and, if accepted, included in a future update.

Update





©2000-2003 Mantissa Computing Ltd - Terms of Use