Piper Williams

‘Almost’ feels just right

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By John Lyle Belden

In troubling times, it is good to take a moment to relax, have a smile or even a laugh, and just look at the Northern Lights.

Welcome to “Almost, Maine,” that quirky township on the edge of the map now reachable through Main Street Productions of Westfield. It seems like every community theatre makes a stop there eventually, and with good reason: In this John Cariani comedy, the series of gentle, funny scenes of love lost and found are refreshing, life-affirming and very entertaining.

For a true community effort, director Kathy Watson selected a full cast for the various characters, with only a couple of actors doubling roles.

Offstage spouses Justin and Anna Spack play a couple who explore just how “close” they can get. Scott Hall is a man who “fixes things” when a camper (Karen Cones) sets up in his yard, and later is a frustrated husband whose wife (Lea Ellingwood) is seeking a shoe – and a sign. It’s “Drink Free If You’re Sad” night at The Moose Paddy, with Aaron Beal, Piper Williams, and Ryley Trottier as the friendly waitress. Beal also spends time with his best bud (Quinn Simonson) comparing “baddest date” stories. Hannah Partridge is an almost-nurse encountering a man (Austin Uebelhor) who almost has that rare condition in which one’s nerves don’t register pain. Amber Roth and Grant Bowen portray a couple who gave so much love to each other – where do you put it all? Jan Borcherding plays Hope, a woman who moved away to find her place in the world, returning to a familiar house with an unfamiliar face (Thom Johnson). Finally, Rosemary Meagher and Mike Sosnowski struggle to see what is right before them, wary of what comes next, or even next-next.

Jeezum-crow! That is a lot going on for such a small (almost) town.

Watson brings out the charming best in a troupe of varying stage experience. Considering the playhouse is in what used to be a small town, the atmosphere is almost perfect. Stage sets and those colorful lights are designed by Kristina Lawyer and producer Bill Miller, whose many jobs included assisting Watson and designing the projected captions over the stage. Jeremy Crouch is stage manager.

Theatrical comfort food to warm a cold month, “Almost, Maine” is open to visitors through Sunday, Feb. 15 (including Valentine’s Day!) at the Westfield Basile Playhouse, 220 N. Union St. Note that there is still ongoing downtown construction, but the way to the theater is clear. Get info and tickets at westfieldplayhouse.org.

Mud Creek goes ‘Barefoot’

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By John Lyle Belden

Seeing a comedy by Neil Simon is kind of like treating yourself to a really nice meal. It just feels so good and satisfying. This is certainly true with the highly-quotable silly-even-when-serious fun of “Barefoot in the Park,” presented by Mud Creek Players, directed by Michelle Moore.

In the anything can happen time and place of 1960s New York, newlyweds Paul and Corie Bratter (Matthew Blandford and Piper Williams) move into their first apartment – a fifth-floor walk-up. Corie eagerly awaits a delayed furniture delivery, but the only arrival is the phone company man (Kevin Smith), who feels every step of the five flights (plus stoop). Soon Paul arrives from his job as a lawyer and while his wife giddily accepts their new place, he can’t help but see its many flaws.

Next to ascend the eternal stairs is Corie’s mother, Ethel (Barb Weaver). To see the apartment after it’s furnished, she agrees to return that Friday for dinner.

Paul is also annoyed – while Corie is pleased – to find that their brownstone is full of eccentric tenants, especially their upstairs (attic) neighbor, aging worldly raconteur Victor Velasco (Chris Otterman). Feeling her mom could use some spice in her life, Corie invites him to dinner Friday as well. And that weekend, things get very spicy.

Simon likes to throw together odd couples, and Williams and Blandford portray well their tested love in a comic clash between one who leaps into life and one who prefers to just sit and get some work done. Corie gets almost too manic, yet that overwhelming nature plays into the second-act antics as Paul finds himself literally on the edge. Weaver nicely plays the woman feeling her adventurous years were behind her, finding herself in her wildest one yet. Otterman’s Victor is a gentlemanly force of nature, not so much chewing the scenery as serving it up with the perfect seasoning.

Smith gets to be charming while his AT&T tech catches his breath. In addition, Jackson Hawkins plays the Delivery Man, who not only finally brings furniture at the end of the first scene, but also appears at major scene changes to summon the stage crew – including Alexandra Sarell and stage manager Dallas Ganz – to move things around as needed.

So feast your senses (and “don’t forget to ‘pop’ it!”) at “Barefoot in the Park,” Thursday through Saturday, May 15-17, at Mud Creek Players “Barn,” 9740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis. Get tickets at mudcreekplayers.org.