Genre: Comedy and RomanceCast: Vansh Sha, Trisha Sengupta, Mable Thomas, Aveek BandyopadhyayDirector: Sridhar Ramanathan & Shubham SrivastavaDuration: 2 hoursLanguage: EnglishRating: 3.5/5Review:Neil Simon’s much-loved Broadway classic Barefoot in the Park, directed by Sridhar Ramanathan & Shubham Srivastava, turns the early days of marriage into an entertaining mix of romance and domestic chaos. Set inside a tiny New York City apartment on the 5th floor, the play follows newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter as their idea of marital bliss meets the realities of life while setting up a home together. The fifth-floor apartment is more than just a setting in this play – with its steep climb and distinct quirks, it almost becomes a character in its own right.Trisha Sengupta as Corie is bubbly and dreamy, bringing an infectious energy to the role. Vansh Sha as Paul makes for a charming contrast with his sensible and ambitious characteristics as a lawyer. The chemistry between the couple is the play’s biggest strength, with their banter, arguments and love exchanges feeling natural and easy. Ethel, played by Mable Thomas, Corie’s strong-willed mother, and Victor Velasco, played by Sridhar Ramanathan, the flamboyant neighbour in the attic, further add to the comic world, each bringing a different flavour to the story. Adding to the production’s charm are the classic songs that play between the acts. They work as little musical preludes, setting the mood for what follows while giving the production a warm, nostalgic quality.Though set in the 1960s, the couple’s everyday squabbles, differing expectations and attempts to find a balance in their relationship feel remarkably contemporary. Corie and Paul come across less like characters from another era and more like a recognisable modern couple dealing with everyday chaos that comes with building a life together.Should you watch it?Watch it for the easy chemistry, comic timing, and reality of everyday chaos that comes with marriage.
