"Barefoot in the Park"

You have one more chance to catch this great Neil Simon show this weekend - and then three more chances next weekend.

Here's the story from the Herald-Dispatch:

The story of a young couple struggling through the first days of marriage will take the stage in Huntington this weekend.

Arts Resources for the Tri-State will present Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park Sunday, April 3, and again April 8-10, at the Renaissance Theatre, 900 8th St. The show begins at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance by calling 304-733-7287 or by visiting www.733arts.org. Dinner and show tickets are also available for $30. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and is only available prior to the Friday and Saturday shows.

Bil Neal, the show’s director, said “Barefoot” is different from most of the comedies ARTS has done.

“This is completely character driven,” Neal said. “Some people are funny and not trying to be funny. It’s funny because of the people involved.”

Neal said the play, which is set in 1960s New York, revolves around a young bride who has been married for six days.

“Neil Simon is a very good comedic writer. These are very real characters. It’s a slice of her life in 24 hours,” he said. “There’s nothing vulgar. It’s good clean fun because of the people involved.”

Neal said the show has a way of growing on you.

“You’ll grow to love the people by the end of the first act,” he said. “They’re completely normal people that funny things happen to. I think that’s interesting to watch.”

The cast includes Sara Booth, Stephen Vance, Karen Pruitt, Derek Ross, Clint McElroy and Charlie Woolcock.

“It’s some of the best acting that I’ve seen in the Tri-State,” Neal said. “It’s been amazing.”

In addition to directing a variety of ARTS productions, Neal also serves on the board of ARTS, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

“I think it’s important in the community to have a resource for the arts in general,” he said. “That’s why I’m on the board. I want to support it.”