Mighty Oaks Players set for weekend performances of Neil Simon classic.
By: Bill Greenwood
MONROE Frank Petito has come a long way since his first directing job.
"I directed ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in my backyard when I was 16," he said. "The neighbors came, and we built a stage. It’s been downhill ever since."
Since then, Mr. Petito has directed several off-Broadway plays; spent 20 years total in Indonesia, Bangkok, Thailand and Singapore; and founded the Singapore Repertory Theater, with which he served as associate producer for two Broadway shows "Golden Child" and "Flower Drum Song." Now, he is directing the Mighty Oaks Players’ production of Neil Simon’s "Barefoot in the Park."
"It’s my first time doing something with the Mighty Oaks Players, and I wanted to do something that I think is a very funny play and a reliable play to do," Mr. Petito said. "It’s a real audience-pleaser."
The play will be performed Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Richard P. Marasco Center for the Performing Arts in the Monroe Township High School, Perrineville Road. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors. They will be available at the door two hours prior to showtime.
The play focuses on two newlyweds, Corie and Paul, living in a New York City apartment. The show humorously explores the difficulties the two face as they begin their new life together.
"It’s like a sitcom on stage," David Cruse, who plays Paul, said. "It’s just very funny, very real, and the comedy comes out of the realness of it, being able to identify with it."
Co-star Sara Haley, who plays Corie, agreed, adding that the situations depicted in the production, which was first performed in 1963, are still understandable today.
"I’m actually a newlywed myself, so I can relate to everything that’s going on even though it was originally supposed to be set in the ’60s," she said. "The relationships and basic activities are very relatable."
However, Mr. Petito decided to go a step further and set the play in modern times. He said some alterations to the script were necessary in order to do so but doubted that audiences would even notice.
"It’s little things," Mr. Petito said. "Instead of going home and watching ‘What’s My Line?’ (Corie) goes home and watches ‘Antiques Roadshow.’"
The production will take place on an elaborate two-tier set meant to replicate Corie and Paul’s apartment.
"You actually can see people walking on the roof," Mr. Petito said.
He said he expected the apartment setting to add to the play’s comedy.
"(Corie’s) in love with this apartment, and it’s on the top floor of a five-story walk-up," he said. "Everyone who appears at the door is totally out of breath, exhausted the moment they get there."
However, there is one character not affected by the climb Ms. Haley’s Corie.
"I love my apartment, and I can’t wait to get there," she said. "It doesn’t faze me. I’m full of energy."
All joking aside, the production is serious work for the players and Mr. Petito. For him, the show will be his first since returning to the United States from Singapore about five years ago. He said he hoped audiences would take away an appreciation for the work of Neil Simon and leave with a smile on their face.
"This play’s almost 50 years old," he said. "I think (the audience) is going to be impressed by him as a playwright, how well he holds up over 50 years."
"It really is a piece to come and laugh about and have a good time," he said.

