MORE THAN EVER, I need laughter. I need to sequester myself in a place without media, without any hint of what’s happening outside weather-wise or world-wise. I need to laugh in bursts of untethered delight.
That happened Friday evening inside the darkened historic theatre at the Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Avenue, in downtown Faribault.
There, The Merlin Players opened “Barefoot in the Park,” a romantic comedy by Neil Simon set in a New York City brownstone in February 1963. There I found the delight I craved, I needed, I longed for in recent days. I laughed. Free. Full. Joyous.
This six-person cast presented a stellar performance of this story about newlyweds settling into their apartment and into married life. A drop-in mother-in-law, a quirky and friendly neighbor, a telephone repairman and a delivery man round out the cast.
What most impressed me, besides the acting, was observing just how much these performers love working together. In one scene, mother-in-law Ethel Banks (played by Susan Dunhaupt) and neighbor Victor Velasco (played by Carter Martin) started laughing. Not as part of the script, but at lines in the play and the audience reaction. It was one of those moments that drew us all in. Unscripted. Pure and full laughter rolling through the theatre. Until the pair could pull themselves together enough to continue.
After the show, at an opening night reception, Martin was overheard saying he didn’t expect they would have a “Carol Burnett moment.” He was referencing the superstar comedian who sometimes also laughed so hard she paused in performing.
Faribault is fortunate to have a semi-professional theater company based in our community and one which draws such talented performers—like the leads in this play, professional actor Paul Somers and Sydney Place Sallstrom. Matt Drenth (the phone repairman), in his buffalo plaid shirt, also brought plenty of humor to the performance as did Gary Hoganson with his minor delivery man role.
All in all, “Barefoot in the Park” gave me exactly what I needed on a February evening in Minnesota. Laughter. And a few hours secluded in the darkness of a theater, away from the real world, real life.
FYI: Other performances are set for 7:30 p.m. February 24 and March, 1, 2 and 3. A matinee showing is at 2 p.m. February 25.
© Copyright 2018 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Sometimes just a small escape from the real world can do wonderful things for your spirit. One of my favorite old movies! Good for you! 🙂
You are right on that. I’d never seen the movie, so the play was my first view of Simon’s work.
Must have been a delightful evening!
You would have loved it, Gretchen.
By the way, I know Sydney a little and so it’s fun to know she did so well!
Because of her theater work in Sioux Falls?
No, I did an interview with her for the Globe a few years ago because she grew up in this area. She also has helped choreograph some dances for the high school musicals because she knows Eric Parrish, the director. Lovely person.
She shows such joy in performing.
That’s neat!!
I probably will not make it to the Paradise but we did watch the old movie on Netflix. Thanks for the idea.
Now I need to watch the movie.
Sounds delightful, Your right, we all need to remove ourselves from the media, and just laugh a little.
It felt so good to laugh.
It sounds like you had a good time and a nice break from the real world. We all need a few extra moments like these
Indeed we do. I hope you find such moments of escape and joy also.