Early Start By Repertory

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31904, 4 February 1969, Page 8

Early Start By Repertory

The Canterbury Repertory Society is to make an early start to its activities this year, with a seven-night season, starting on Saturday, of the successful Hollywood, London and Broadway comedy, “Barefoot in the Park.”

The comedy by Neil Simon is being produced by Walter Pym, with a cast of six. Originally it was scheduled for the end of the month, but it was moved forward to avoid a clash with the Christchurch Operatic Society’s production of “The Pajama Game.” “Barefoot in the Park,” which had long seasons on stage in Broadway and London and was a great success as a film, is about the trials and tribulations in the first few weeks of marriage of a young couple living in an apartment on the fifth floor of a brownstone apartment building in New York. “It is a very slight piece, but a very amusing farce,” Mr Pym said yesterday. "It contains some very clever lines.” There is only one stage set —the interior of a room in

the apartment. In the first act it is bare, and the furniture does not arrive until the second act. Mildred Marshall has the lead role, as the mother-in-law, and Robert Blake plays the husband.

Valerie Pendrey, a newcomer, plays the role of Corry, the young wife, whose favourite pastime is walking barefoot in the park in midwinter.

Peter Giddens has the part of Victor Valasco, the man from the flat above who makes off with the mother-in-law, and Bill Hayward, formerly of the Elmwood Players, is the telephone man. Strath McKnight, as the delivery man, completes the cast.