Stage Review - Barefoot in the Park (Harlequin Productions)

Stage Review - Barefoot in the Park
Presented By: Harlequin Productions - Olympia, WA
Show Run: August 21 - September 13, 2026 (Extended)
Date Reviewed: Sunday, August 23, 2026 (Opening Weekend)
Run Time: 2 Hours, 15 Minutes (including a 20-minute intermission)
Reviewed by: Breanne Jensen

Every show I have the pleasure to see at Harlequin repeatedly reminds me, what a lovely environment this theatre has created to enjoy art. Sunday afternoon’s matinee was no exception when it came to attending Neil Simon’s play, “Barefoot in the Park”. The story follows a newlywed couple, in the year of 1963 (six days in, in fact) that has just tied the knot, had the honeymoon at the Plaza and moved into their first humble marital home. When the show opens, we find our new wife, Mrs. Corie Bratter, in their Manhattan apartment filled with newlywed sunshine and bliss. As each new character emerges (her husband Paul, her mother, their eccentric neighbor and one hilarious handyman) into the apartment, they remind our optimistic bride that she chose an apartment on the sixth floor, not including the stoop at the entrance. Corie’s husband, an attorney named Paul, is tight laced and wears a suit as to where his bride is free spirited and open to adventure. Throughout the two acts the audience gets to watch as the honeymoon wears off, the bills, stress, family chaos and six flights of stairs begin the wear on the couple until they succumb to their first major fight. Whether the phone was ringing, the broken window was letting in snow, the heat wasn’t working, the roof was leaking, or the closet in the bedroom had to be accessed by crawling over the bed, Corie saw the beauty in a place of her own to create with Paul and Paul, his mother-in-law, Ethel, and their neighbor Victor saw the problems for what they were.

The set is large and dually compact, yet executes excellence with three stories. There is the main floor of the apartment, two steps up to the bedroom/bathroom and the skylight in the ceiling to reflect quite a bit of imagery and symbolism in the show.  The scenic design (Mark Lund) was methodical, effective and stunning, leaving the audience with a time appropriate space that ended up feeling like home to the audience. The light design (Mark Thomason) illuminated the set in a way that was complimentary and compatible to evoke emotion within the set and characters within it. The costume design (Nanette Acosta) suited the characters immensely between era appropriateness and each garment fitting every actor like a glove. Special mention to Paul’s (Christian Bolduc) silver suit that truly fits him and his long limbs like I have never seen from something not custom! Everyone looked beautiful as did their hair/wigs designed by Joyce Degenfelder!

I wanted to take a moment to applaud the entire creative team on the one and only “real” scene change that takes place in act one. The music (sound design by Mark Lund) sets us in a playful mood as the audience, and shows the unpacking of the apartment in such a playful way. The stage management team (Ashley Winrod & Tommy McGee) uses their best acting chops and helps both Paul and neighbor, Victor, unpack the home whilst in “blue light” just like a scene change. We really do love a scene within a scene! Direction by Karen Lund and Associate Direction by Aaron Lamb, proves to be genius in design, execution, timing, humor, creativity and originality down to how the set becomes revealed (I don’t want to ruin the surprise because it is magic!) The casting is also superb and unmatched as a whole with genuine and authentic chemistry throughout.

Leading wifey, Corie Bratter, is played by the stunning and exuberant Kate Anders. Anders brings eccentricity, warmth, adventure, spontaneity, spice and absolutely everything nice. Anders brings a sincerity and edge to Corie that would make her proud. Her leading man and stage hubby, Paul Bratter, is infectiously played by Christian Bolduc. Bolduc has hysterical comedic timing, noteworthy eyebrow expressions and a natural chemistry with Anders that creates comfortability in their partnership within the audience. Bolduc never ceases to amaze me in the different roles he is able to perfect in each project he tackles. The Bratter’s wacky upstairs attic neighbor, Victor Velasco, is played by Russ Holm. Holm has to be one of the funniest and most charming character actors I have ever witnessed. There wasn’t an ounce of Russ that I saw, everything was Victor and who that character embodies. Opposite of Mr. Holm both on stage and in real life, is Kim Holm, who plays Ethel Banks, Corie’s mother. Ethel is critical, tightly wound and ever so supportive of her daughter and her new husband. Kim Holm had myself and my guest in stitches with laughter with her comedic timing and delivery of her lines. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time and both her portrayal of the character as well as her entire character’s design left me feeling like I was witnessing Nathan Lane as the mother in the movie The Bird Cage. Holm’s talent is natural, effortless and infectious. Last but certainly not least, is the telephone repairman, played by Andy Gordon. Gordon is in three scenes and each one is funnier than the last. From the second he enters wheezing from his intense journey on the stairs, to setting up the landline, to awkwardly mediating the Bratter’s first fight, his small moments on stage are made large by his talents.

“Barefoot in the Park” was a show by one of my favorite playwrights that I had never seen before and I can’t imagine what took me so long to jump on the bandwagon. The material itself is timeless in how the text translates and relates to anyone who has ever started a life with someone else. The jokes, the incredible cast, crew and volunteers, and all the designers truly created a show that is so special, I will never forget it! Brava to all and as a courteous reminder, please SILENCE your cellphones during a performance, we had six different cellphones interrupt our show in a short period and the entire creative collective deserves our respect and theatre etiquette. Whether you are familiar with the show or it is new to you, Harlequin’s production does not even for a moment disappoint and has me ready to run barefoot in the park with the Bratters.

Barefoot in the Park, from Harlequin Productions, has been extended and now runs on stage in Olympia through September 13. For more information, including ticket availability and sales, visit https://harlequinproductions.org/.

Photo credit: Shanna Paxton Photography