Romantic comedy kicks off season

Frontiersman

Valley Performing Arts kicks off its 31st season next Friday with a Neil Simon classic, &#8220Barefoot in the Park.”

Director Steve Cuthbert said he's looking forward to starting the season off on the right foot.

&#8220There's some pressure as the first production because it kind of sets the bar for season ticket sales,” Cuthbert said. &#8220That's why they've often done big musicals to start the season. This is a fun comedy with a great cast that people will enjoy.”

Being the first production of the year does have some advantages, however.

&#8220We could get in and get on stage a lot earlier than we would have with a regular production,” Cuthbert said. &#8220I'll always volunteer for the first one. There's no rush, and you can do things at your own pace. We are way ahead of schedule, and that's a good feeling.”

The six-person cast has developed a great working chemistry, and Cuthbert said that has been a huge help.

&#8220It makes all the difference in the world when the cast gets along so well,” he said. &#8220The audience can see that.”

Real-life husband and wife John and Robyn Harris star as Paul and Corrie Bratter. Paul is a conservative lawyer, while Corrie is a happy-go-lucky sort who laughs off everything. Their trials and tribulations of living in a small New York City apartment, five stories up without an elevator, play out on stage.

&#8220Corrie wants everyone to be happy and is always laughing, but she finally learns a lesson about the right time to laugh, and the right time to be serious,” Robyn Harris said. &#8220When I was 19, I was there, laughing off everything.”

The romantic comedy is about maturing as couple, one cast member said.

&#8220I think the story is about growing up, and about not being as old as you think you are,” said Wendy Golter, who plays Ethel Banks, Corrie's mother. &#8220For some, it's about not being a stick in the mud and learning to live a little.”

Golter said the play has a big significance in her personal life, and she jumped at the chance to be part of the cast.

&#8220I first met my husband when we were rehearsing a scene for this same production back in college,” she said.

Rod Mehrtens plays Victor Velasco, a mysterious and eccentric sort.

&#8220When I first read the play last December, I told Steve (Cuthbert) that Rod is Velasco,” Robyn Harris said. &#8220He is the perfect Velasco.”

Rounding out the cast is Summer Horton, who plays the Telephone Repair Person and Kevin Cochran, who plays the Delivery Man. Handling stage manager duties for the first time is Jess Young. Erik Hendricks is handling the lighting, while Cherie Trask is the costumer.

The production opens next Friday (Aug. 18) and runs through Sept. 3, with shows at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Tickets are available by calling the box office at 373-0195 or by visiting the Web site www.valleyperformingarts.org. A special gala is planned following the opening night performance, with refreshments served following the show. The cast and crew will be attending the reception as well.

This year, several seats were removed from Machetanz Theatre, and they will be replaced with a comfortable couch.

For an additional donation, people can watch the production from the couch, and then have their pictures taken with the cast.

For information on that program, call

373-0195.

Contact Casey Ressler at 352-2265 or

valleylife@frontiersman.com.