`BAREFOOT IN THE PARK'

Central High drama teacher Cynthia Wyatt sent students Rachel Roberts and George Aplin to a park together last week because they have to kiss each other believably in "Barefoot in the Park."

Kissing wasn't their assignment; getting comfortable with each other was.

Roberts, a junior, and Aplin, a senior, are the leads in the Red Dagger Drama Club's upcoming production of the play, a Neil Simon comedy fired by the passions of newlyweds Cory and Paul.

Love scenes can be difficult for high school actors and actresses, says Wyatt, who is directing her 20th play or musical at the school.

"They usually have to work outside of the regular rehearsal period," she says. "I usually tell them to spend some time together. As long as they like each other, it'll be OK."

The play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Tiger Fieldhouse. Tickets are $2 for students, $3 for adults.

Set in New York City, "Barefoot in the Park" places the two newlyweds in an apartment that is hardly the home of their dreams and follows them as reality begins intruding on their state of bliss.

The parts were memorably played by Jane Fonda and Robert Redford in the movie version.

Other characters in the play are Cory's straitlaced mother, Ethel, played by Jennie Lukens; the bohemian neighbor Velasco, played by Nick Ryan; and the telephone man (Pat Moon) and the delivery man (Robbie Guard).

Wyatt's student assistant director is Robbie Felker.

In Ryan, Wyatt cast a freshman as the flamboyant Valasco. "A brave move on my part, no? Well, Nick tends to be an eccentric-type individual," she says.

Lukens, a senior, is the daughter of Steve Lukens, longtime technical director for Central High School plays.

Lukens once again is in charge of the technical aspects of "Barefoot in the Park," which presents special circumstances for everyone because it will be performed in the round.

"A straight proscenium stage is like looking at a picture frame," Wyatt says. "You place the characters and move them to create a mood, a feeling.

"In the round you're coming from four different directions. It's much more difficult."

"Barefoot in the Park" is the second Neil Simon play of the year for the school, following last fall's "The Good Doctor."

The school also has produced Simon's "Plaza Suite" and "Rumors" in recent years.

Though admitting she's close to burning out on Neil Simon plays herself, Wyatt says they remain pleasing and safe choices for a high school drama club in the era of "Angels in America."

"Much of the new material may be too mature for high school audiences," Wyatt said. "Picking and choosing is getting more difficult for me."