Bainbridge Little Theatre invites all to come run “Barefoot in the Park” as it opens its 41st season with Neil Simon’s 1963 two-act comedy by the same name. 

Opening night is Thursday, Sept.18, with a curtain time of 7:30 p.m. The run continues Friday and Saturday, and ends with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. on the 21st.

It is the story of newlyweds, Corie and Paul Bratter, who begin to start housekeeping in a small walk-up apartment in Greenwich Village, New York after returning from a brief honeymoon. There and then they begin to learn how different they really are from each other, and the problems that arise between them as a result of those differences become obvious.

Paul is a rather stuffy, conventional lawyer, while Corie is spontaneous and slightly unorthodox. She sets out to cultivate the friendship of her eccentric upstairs neighbor and even attempts to play match-maker between him and her mother.

After squabbles with his wife and her repeated complaints about his cautious demeanor, Paul gets drunk and runs barefoot through Washington Square Park just to prove a point.

The play was made into a movie in 1967 starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda as the newlyweds.

This BLT version stars Ariel Brock as Corie. Ariel is a newcomer to the BLT stage, although she served as choreographer for this summer’s

Class Act teen production of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Veteran actor, Richard Whitehead assumes the role of her husband Paul. Marie Stapleton takes the role of Corie’s mother, Mrs. Banks, while the eccentric upstairs neighbor, Victor Velasco is portrayed by Thad Nifong. Henry Intili as the telephone man and Mike Inlow as the delivery man, complete the cast.

It is under the direction of Martha Mobley, who recalls that this was the first play presented by BLT. She believes it was in 1975 and it was held at Elcan King School, long before the theater group was given their present venue by benefactor Max Langdon.

The play was chosen to be the first production by Dr. Eunice Knight, a professor of English at what was then named Bainbridge Junior College.

She also directed the play, which saw the part of Paul played by Ed Marcicano, described as a beloved and charismatic professor at the college. “His premature death at age 46 was a huge loss to the academic and cultural communities,” said Mobley. She has chosen to dedicate this performance to the fond memories of both Eunice and Ed.

A wine and cheese patrons reception in the newly renovated garden starts at 6:30 p.m. prior to the opening night show.

For reservations, call 229-246-8345, Email:bainbridgelittletheatre@gmail.com.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door 30 minutes prior to the production. Visit www.bainbridgelittletheatre.com to learn more about the Bainbridge Little Theatre.