Barefoot in the Park

When Corie shouts the line"six days does not a week make," I found myself at the same time thinking "barefoot in the park does not an entertaining evening of theatre make." And so - I start by saying - you might not want to go to this unless you can get free tickets (yes harsh, but realistic).

Really - I thought - I'll go, enjoy this light-hearted fun show with some actors who I had high hopes for - but no, I was disappointed. The show has good intentions - but it always seems to be trying too hard. Amanda Peet as Corie is pratically SHOUTING her lines at the audience and her range as an actor is demonstrably weak - not to mention that her emotional scenes are barren. Jill Clayburgh has some funny moments but most of the time I saw her being Jill Clayburgh, not Corie's mother, Ethel. Tony Roberts also has good moments - but the overall performance is not particularly stellar. On the flip side, Patrick Wilson is great a Paul Branner, one half of the newly married couple living in New York City. I found myself genuinly interested in his character - and his was nice to see him playing a comic role - one which I haven't seen before.

The set's a nice feature of the show - but like Mr. Brantley says, it would be nice to have something to watch at times (a nice coat of paint drying) instead of the action in the show. I had higher hopes for the costumes - done by Isaac Mizrahi - which seamed only to scream that he wants the audience to know know know that this play is set in the 1960s.

Well that's enough - you know how I feel - there are many better things out there on which to spend your time & money.