From left: Arjun Pande as Paul Bratter, Ays Garcia as Corie Bratter, and Alexandra Tavares as Mother in Taproot’s production of Barefoot in the Park (May 2026). Photo by Giao Nguyen.
Barefoot in the Park
Taproot Theatre
Through June 20, 2026
Barefoot in the Park was one of the first major Broadway hits for legendary playwright Neil Simon. First produced on Broadway in the early 1960s, the show ran for almost four years. This comedic farce has now arrived at Taproot Theatre, providing an enjoyable evening of escape, nostalgia, and laughter.
The story follows newlyweds Paul and Corie Bratter, who have just moved into a new apartment after their five-day honeymoon. Their New York City apartment is on the sixth floor of a walk-up building — a detail that practically in of itself becomes a character in the show. Corie is excited about decorating and creating a home for her lawyer husband. Paul receives news that he will be leading his first court case the next morning just as Corie’s mother arrives with more gifts for the newlyweds.
Ays Garcia as Corie Bratter and Arjun Pande as Paul Bratter in Taproot’s production of Barefoot in the Park (May 2026). Photo by Giao Nguyen.
As the couple settles in, they meet their upstairs neighbor, Victor Velasco, a gregarious man who enjoys good food, company, and adventure. Velasco convinces the group to go out and celebrate; an idea Corie embraces while the more conservative Paul hesitates. Their adventure takes them to Staten Island for Middle Eastern food and plenty of ouzo. Despite Paul’s important court appearance, the next morning, the foursome heads out.
When the drunken group returns, Velasco and Corie are energized by the experience, while Paul and Mother are practically exhausted. Velasco offers to drive “Mother” — who is never given another name in the show — back to her home in New Jersey. Corie and Paul soon find themselves in their first major fight, which escalates with Corie convinced she wants a divorce. Over the next few hours, they argue until, as these romantic comedies often do, they rediscover their love and reconcile.
The cast of Barefoot in the Park is small, with only five actors portraying six characters. Brian Pucheu plays the Telephone Repair Man, who repeatedly schlepps up six flights of stairs to install — and later repair — the newlyweds’ telephone. (Yes, a landline.) His expressions are priceless as he emphasizes the exhaustion brought on by the seemingly endless climb to the apartment.
Mother is played by Alexandra Tavares, who fully embraces the role of a proper 1960s mother. Her reluctance to go out and socialize comes across clearly, as does her affection for her daughter.
Mike Woo plays Victor Velasco while also doubling as a Delivery Man. Mr. Woo brings tremendous energy to the role of the adventurous neighbor and instigator of the evening’s debauchery. His comic timing is sharp, and his exuberant personality fills the stage.
Corie and Paul are, of course, the center of the production. Ays Garcia plays Corie with the perfect amount of newlywed excitement. She is eager to please her husband and create a happy home. The character’s emotions are somewhat exaggerated — typical of female characters written during that era, especially in a comedy — but Garcia handles them well. She effectively portrays Corie’s rapid shifts between passionate love and impulsive declarations of divorce after consuming ten ouzos.
Paul is played by Arjun Pande, who does a fine job portraying the more conservative half of the relationship. Paul wants to provide for his wife in the old-fashioned sense by working hard and taking care of her. Corie accuses him of being a “stuffed shirt,” but for the time period, his behavior feels understandable. Mr. Pande also appears to relish the moments when Paul finally loosens up and embraces a more rebellious side.
From left: Arjun Pande as Paul Bratter, Ays Garcia as Corie Bratter, and Alexandra Tavares as Mother in Taproot’s production of Barefoot in the Park (May 2026). Photo by Giao Nguyen.
Barefoot in the Park is undeniably a product of its time. Set in the early 1960s, the play reflects a period when people were beginning to move away from conservative behaviors and embrace a more bohemian lifestyle — symbolized by the idea of literally walking barefoot in the park during a freezing winter. The conflicts between the couples, along with the excessive drinking and resulting behavior, firmly root the play in that era.
There are definitely plenty of laughs throughout the evening. The recurring gag of characters struggling up the stairs occasionally becomes repetitive, though one sequence stands out: Paul carrying Mother on his back while her feet drag lifelessly across the stage. The sight of Alexandra Tavares portraying a completely intoxicated Mother is worth the price of admission alone.
Neil Simon was – at one time – considered the King of Comedy having written more than 30 plays. He got his start writing for Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows” and The Phil Silver Show. He worked alongside other comedic writers such as Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Woody Allen, Larry Gelbart and Selma Diamond.
His plays include: The Odd Couple, Come Blow Your Horn, Sweet Charity, The Good Doctor, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, Promises, Promises, Little Me, and They’re Playing Our Song among others. He has been nominated for over 18 Tony Awards and two Pulitzer Prizes with four wins and one win, respectively. His films include the screen adaptations of several of his plays and the mystery comedy, “Murder By Death”.
Barefoot in the Park originally opened on Broadway on October 23, 1963, and ran for 1,530 performances. The original cast included Elizabeth Ashley as Corie, Herbert Edelman (“Stan” in The Golden Girls) as the Telephone Man, and introduced a young Broadway actor named Robert Redford. The production received four Tony Award nominations and won for Best Director.
A Broadway revival opened in 2006 starring Jill Clayburgh as Mother, Amanda Peet as Corie, Tony Roberts as Velasco, and Patrick Wilson as Paul.
The 1967 film adaptation featured Robert Redford and Herbert Edelman reprising their stage roles, alongside Jane Fonda as Corie and Charles Boyer as Victor Velasco.
