It’s 1963. Kennedy is in the White House, Man is racing to the moon, Woman is home cooking and taking care of the kids, and Neil Simon is penning another hit comedy play, “Barefoot in the Park.”

Fastforward to 2006. Kennedy and his Camelot are figures in a history book, man on the moon is old news and women are more likely to be bringing dinner home from KFC after working all day and picking the kids up at daycare than slaving over a hot stove.

Can “Barefoot in the Park” still be as funny today as it was then, or is it as anachronistic as the old black and white TV?

Will the audience laugh or wince when the newlywed wife proclaims: “He protects me, cares for me, tells me how much to spend.”

Roving Players Director Donnis Hurd says yes, it’s still as funny, and relevant today.

“This is a really true story about opposites attracting,” she said, a timeless theme. “I don’t think it’s dated, except that she’s very focused on being a wife.”

“Barefoot in the Park” opens March 3 at the Indianola Clubhouse.

The play revolves around newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter, played by Rachel Enyeart and Gabe Smith, who find that their “for better or for worse” vows are put to the acid test when they move into their disastrous first apartment in New York.

The tiny apartment is a sixth floor walkup, painted a garish color, with no furniture, a leaking skylight and not even enough room for a double bed. The eccentric upstairs neighbor accesses his apartment by going through theirs to get to the fire escape.

The bickering begins and doesn’t let up until the predictable happy ending. He is an uptight “up and coming young lawyer,” while she is a young woman excited about setting up their first home together, and given to spontaneous acts such as walking “barefoot in the park.”

Enyeart, 21, said she sees parallels between the Kennedy-era couple and modern life.

“The idea of ‘opposites attract’ seems to be timeless. I’m sure any couple who are opposites will be able to relate to the tensions, and even the humor, in Corie and Paul’s relationship,” she said.

One difference: “With our generation’s skepticism of marriage due to the high divorce rate, I don’t think as many young couples are as willing to rush into marriage as they were back in the ‘60s.”

This is Enyeart’s second play for Roving Players; she played Emma in last year’s “The Homecoming.” She also recently co-directed two plays at her college in Portland.

Smith, 22, also felt the themes of opposites attracting and getting started in marriage were universal.

Smith performed in “Mr. Roberts” with the Roving Players in 2001, but has been going to college at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, majoring in theater.

He’s taking a year off from school, but wants to keep up his acting skills.

“This is my leap back into it,” he said.

Next year, back at school, he hopes to land a theatrical internship and pursue his goal of becoming an actor or director.

One problem he did have with the play — timely references.

“I didn’t know who Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. or Arthur Miller were,” he said.

As is the trademark of Neil Simon, the main characters are surrounded by a cast of zany extras.

The upstairs neighbor, Victor Velasco, is played by Bruce Taylor and Corie’s mother, who chooses now to show her wild side, is played by Jacquie Taylor.

The delivery man and telephone repairman are played by Leroy McVay and Pete Simpson.

Hurd said it’s been great working with all the cast, although there have been a few challenges. Two weeks before opening, Enyeart had severe laryngitis and Smith was nursing a broken hand. While Enyeart hopes to have her voice back by opening night, Smith will be performing with his hand in a cast. They’re thinking of working it into the script.

“Barefoot in the Park” opens March 3 at the Indianola Clubhouse and runs Fridays and Saturdays through March 25. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., with a March 18 dinner theater starting at 6 p.m.

Opening night is a fund-raiser for Stillwaters Environmental Center, with the Stillwaters Frog Chorus, appetizer buffet, and no host bar.

Tickets for opening night are $20 adults, $18 seniors and student, available at Stillwaters Environmental Center, (306) 297-2876 and Sacks Feed in Kingston. Other nights are $10 adults and $8 seniors and students; Dinner theater tickets are $25 and $23, available at Kingston Peninsula Video, Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo, Indianola Country Store, the Kitsap Mall information booth and online at www.rovingplayers.org.