Photo by Jeff Baughan Chad Ridgway, left, and Jamie Meckley play Paul and Corie Bratter, the newly married couple.

PARKERSBURG — The Actors Guild of Parkersburg will present Neil Simon’s classic comedy “Barefoot in the Park” for the next two weekends at the Guild Playhouse in downtown Parkersburg.

The Guild will also be holding auditions for its next production this weekend, on Sunday and Monday.

Friday’s opening night is sold out, but tickets are still available for the other shows at $16 for adults and $14 for students and seniors. Tickets are available by calling 304-485-1300 or online at www.actorsguildonline.org. The show will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Jan. 27 and 28 and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday and Jan. 29.

“Barefoot in the Park” is the first big Broadway hit from Simon, who is also known as the creator of “The Odd Couple” and many other movies, books and plays.

In the play, Paul and Corie Bratter are newlyweds in every sense of the word. He’s a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer and she’s a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. Their new top floor, walk-up apartment is her most recent find — too expensive with bad plumbing and in need of a paint job.

Photo by Jeff Baughan The Actors Guild of Parkersburg will be performing the Neil Simon classic “Barefoot in the Park.” The cast includes, back row from left, Mitch Mazaher and Bill Knotts; and front from left, Dave Roberts, Rena Swearingen, Chad Ridgway and Jamie Meckley.

After a six-day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie’s loopy mother and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic, Velasco, where everything that can go wrong, does. Paul just doesn’t understand Corie, as she sees it. He’s too staid, too boring and she just wants him to be a little more spontaneous, running “barefoot in the park” would be a start.

The cast includes Jamie Meckley as Corie Bratter, Chad Ridgway as Paul Bratter, Rena Swearingen as Mrs. Ethel Banks (Corie’s mother), Mitch Mazaher as Victor Velasco, Dave Roberts as Harry the telephone man and Bill Knotts as the Delivery Man.

The director is Dave Prather.

“Barefoot in the Park” opened on Broadway in 1963 with Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley. It spawned a hit 1967 film adaptation again starring Redford, reprising his Broadway role, with Jane Fonda taking over the role of Corie. In 1970 there was a short lived TV series that featured an African American cast and in 1982 a television movie version starred Richard Thomas and Bess Armstrong. Barefoot was revived on Broadway in 2006 with Patrick Wilson and Amanda Peet.

The Guild will also be holding auditions for its April production of “Company,” the musical comedy by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth.

Photo by Jeff Baughan Rena Swearingen, left, is Mrs. Ethel Banks and Mitch Mazaher, right, is Victor Velasco.

The auditions will be 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday in the Guild’s Rehearsal Hall at 724 Market St. Entrance is gained through the black door on Market Street and by following the stairs to the top floor.

” Company” tells the story of Robert, a single man unable to fully commit to a steady relationship. On the night of his 35th birthday, he contemplates his unmarried state. In vignette after hilarious vignette, he weighs the pros and cons of married life as we are introduced to the women he is dating and “those good and crazy people,” his married friends. In the end, he realizes being alone is “alone, not alive.”

Auditions will consist of readings from the script and singing from the score. For more detailed audition information, audition sides and character descriptions, visit the Guild website at www.actors-guild.com/company. The production dates will be three weekends from April 21-May 6.

Director Charlie Matthews and Musical Director Mike Dotson are seeking men and women ages 25-65 to fill all available roles. Actors of all ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to audition. The cast calls for six men and eight women.