Barefoot in the Park

One of the greatest romantic comedies ever written: warm, sparkling, and just honest enough to know that love is never quite as tidy as the wedding promised.

Neil Simon’s classic follows newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter as they move into their first New York apartment, a fifth-floor walk-up with too many problems, too little space, and absolutely no intention of making life easy. She is impulsive, passionate, and ready to live full speed ahead. He is cautious, practical, and already trying to make sense of the chaos. Add an eccentric neighbor, Corie’s well-meaning mother, and a marriage still learning how to breathe, and what follows is a funny, affectionate portrait of two people discovering that building a life together requires a little grace, a little compromise, and occasionally a sense of humor.

The original Broadway starring Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley running more than 1,500 performances. It earned Tony nominations for Best Play, Best Actress, and Best Producer, with Mike Nichols winning the Tony for Best Direction of a Play. The story later became the hit 1967 film starring Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, helping cement its place as one of Neil Simon’s most beloved works.

Critics have long loved its wit and charm. The New York Times famously described it as a “bubbling, rib-tickling comedy”.