Theatre
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Let Me Down Easy At American Rep Theatre
Anna Deavere Smith's Amazing Grace
By: - Sep 28th, 2008One of the singular artists of our generation, Anna Deavere Smith brings insight, perception and intellect to the dramatization of the human condition in the 21st Century. Her latest performance piece Let Me Down Easy is both troubling and involving while equally enlightening and entertaining. It should not be missed.
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Berkshire Theatre Summer 2008
An Overview of the Season
By: - Sep 17th, 2008Despite the challenges of rainy weather,gas at $4 a gallon, and a bad economy it was a superb season of theatre in the Berkshires. Nicholas Martin was the MVP for putting the venerable Williamstown Theatre Festival back on its feet.
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The Berkshire Summer Theatre Season 2008
A Mostly Upbeat Report Card
By: - Sep 17th, 2008Three dozen productions emerged from our four resident theatre companies this Summer making it the busiest Berkshire season in memory. Quality was surprisingly high given the hectic pace of productions. As Fall approaches, we offer you one person's opinion as to the best and the worst for 2008.
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How Shakespeare Won the West World Premiere At The Huntington Theatre Company
49ers Entice Ragtag Group to Perform Bard's Words
By: - Sep 13th, 2008A World Premiere by a Tony Award-winning playwright, Richard Nelson, at the highly professional Huntington Theatre Company is generally a formula for success. However, even with good performances and technical mastery, an unfocused, overly complicated, confusing narrative by playwright Richard Nelson needs serious editing and refining. Less would have certainly been more.
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Cirque du Soleil's Kooza Arrives in Boston
Their Grand Chapieau Dominates the Boston Expo Center
By: - Sep 08th, 2008Cirque du Soleil delivers an unforgettable evening of outrageous clowning, astounding acrobats and colorful spectacle that is best described as "Theatrobatics!" Best of all, Kooza is the newest and funniest of their touring shows and even given the pricey tickets, worth every penny.
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Eleanor: Her Secret Journey by Rhoda Lerman at Berkshire Theatre Festival
Elizabeth Norment As Eleanor Roosevelt
By: - Aug 28th, 2008The revisionist, feminist approach of Rhoda Lerman's play, based on her novel, "Eleanor: Her Secret Journey" presents the developing independence of the first lady, portrayed by Elizabeth Norment, upon learing of an affair with Lucy Mercer by her husband Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
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Noel Coward's Double Exposure
Plays Currently at Berkshire Theatre Festival and Barrington Stage Company
By: - Aug 21st, 2008Currently there are two Noel Coward plays on view in the Berkshires. "Noel Coward in Two Keys" runs at the Berkshire Theatre Festival through August 30 while "Private Lives" continues through August 24. During 2007 there were Coward plays at Huntington Theatre and American Repertory Theatre as well as Williamstown Theatre Festival. Can you ever get enough of Noel Coward?
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See Rock City & Other Destinations at Barrington Stage Company
A Musical Tour About Love, Fear and Commitment
By: - Aug 19th, 2008See Rock City at Barrington Stage Company is a musical about people and the choices they make, regardless of where in life they find themselves. It proves that no matter where you go, there you are.
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Noel Coward in Two Keys at Berkshire Theatre Festival
Vivian Matalon Directed Coward in Original London Production
By: - Aug 16th, 2008Originally the last works of Noel Coward,1966, were presented as three, one act plays with Vivian Matalon directing the playwright. When it moved to Broadway, as here with the Berkshire Theatre Festival, it was reduced to two plays.
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Home by David Storey at Williamstown Theatre Festival
Joseph Hardy Directs a Touch of Madness
By: - Aug 15th, 2008"Home" a 1970 British play by David Storey is less than home sweet home in an impeccable production directed by Joseph Hardy with a superb cast. But, decades before Seinfeld, this is sadly a play about nothing.
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A Frothy Private Lives Sparkles at Barrington Stage Company
Julianne Boyd Serves Up a Noël Coward Classic that is Bubbling with Fun
By: - Aug 11th, 2008Few plays have stood the test of time as well as Private Lives. Like a well made Hot Fudge Sundae, it brings back memories of happier times, when couples were young, scrappy and ever so truly, madly, deeply in love. Barrington Stage has freshened up this old chestnut, and it is funnier and more delightful than ever.
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The Goatwoman of Corvis County at Shakespeare & Company
Triple Premiere: New Play, New Playwright, New Theatre
By: - Aug 10th, 2008What we have here is a wonderful new theatre and fresh playwright to celebrate. The family in this new play is deeply flawed. The only reason you would invite them to your family's Thanksgiving dinner would be to relieve the boredom.
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Randy Harrison Gets Lucky in Waiting For Godot
Berkshire Theatre Festival Tweaks Samuel Beckett Classic
By: - Aug 09th, 2008The Berkshire Theatre Festival has produced a radical makeover of Samuel Beckett's classic "Wating for Godot" directed by Anders Cato. It features a stunning David Schramm as Pozzo and a remarkable performance by Randy Harrison as Lucky.
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Ellen Melaver's Not Waving at Williamstown Theatre Festival
Another New Play for Nikos Stage
By: - Aug 08th, 2008While relaxing with sun and surf three couples manage to bring their baggage to the beach in a new play "Not Waving" by Ellen Melaver, directed by Carolyn Cantor, for the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
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Nicholas Martin Winds Down His First Season at Williamstown Theatre Festival
Directing House of Blue Leaves to Open August 30 in Los Angeles
By: - Aug 08th, 2008While completing his first season at Williamstown Theatre Festival Nicholas Martin will open "The House of Blue Leaves" at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles on August 30. Followed by "Saturn Returns" for Lincoln Center on October 16.
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Georges Feydeau's A Flea in Her Ear at Williamstown Theatre Festival
John Rando Directs a New Translation by David Ives
By: - Aug 01st, 2008A century plus later the 1907 French farce "A Flea in Her Ear" by the master of the genre, Georges Feydeau, is being presented to delighted audiences at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
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Berkshire Theatre Festival Resurrects A Man For All Seasons
Dogma Disguised as Drama is Heavenly but Not Without Sin
By: - Jul 27th, 2008A Man for All Seasons is the story of Sir Thomas More, who refused to bend to King Henry VIII. The King insisted the Roman Catholic Chuch allow him a second divorce so that he could marry Ann Boleyn and father a male heir. Rome refused, he established the Church of England, and his old friend Thomas More had to be eliminated.
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Othello at Shakespeare & Company
Less is Moor
By: - Jul 26th, 2008John Douglas Thompson is phenomenal as "Othello" in a production by Shakesepeare & Company in Lenox, Mass. A bit of the Bard is always a welcome treat in the Berkshires.
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Theresa Rebeck's The Understudy at Williamstown Theatre Festival
Good Grief a Kafkaesque Comedy
By: - Jul 25th, 2008It takes a remarkable playwright like Theresa Rebeck to use snippets of Kafka embedded in a comedy. The brilliant and hilarious "The Understudy" is having its world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. This hit is sure to be Broadway bound.
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The Understudy at WTF
Another View of a New Play by Theresa Rebeck
By: - Jul 25th, 2008A short take and another opinion of the new play "The Understudy" by Theresa Rebeck at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
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A Flea in Her Ear is Next for Williamstown Theatre Festival
John Rando Directs New Version of Feydeau's Fast and Furious Farce
By: - Jul 22nd, 2008They make it look easy on stage, but doing farce is not only hard work, but dangerous as well. Those slamming doors, the madcap chases, the spinning bed are all hilarious, and require split second timing to succeed. Welcome to the frenetic world of French farce. We discuss all the ins and outs with Tony award winning director John Rando and the actor Mark Harelik.
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The Violet Hour at Barrington Stage Company
Publish and Perish
By: - Jul 21st, 2008Barrington Stage Company presents the overlooked 2003 play by Tony Award winning author Richard Greenberg. After a slow first act the second act was most amusing.
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Randy Harrison Talks About Waiting for Godot
Extended Rehearsals Underway at Berkshire Theatre Festival
By: - Jul 21st, 2008We talk with actor Randy Harrison about the Berkshire Theatre Festival's production of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and its many challenges, mysteries and rewards. The enigmas continue.
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Chekhov's Three Sisters at Williamstown Theatre Festival
An Ambitious but Flawed Production
By: - Jul 18th, 2008The Williamstown Theatre Festival deserves much praise and credit for presenting an ambitious production of Anton Chekhov's "Three Sisters" during its fast paced summer season. While there were wonderful elements as directed by Michael Greif the whole was less than the sum of its parts.
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My Scary Girl Evolving at Barrington Stage Company
A Photo Album of the Stage 2 Musical Workshop Production
By: - Jul 17th, 2008Each summer Barrington Stage Company runs a musical workshop program under the direction of Tony-winning composer William Finn. While not ready for review, Berkshire photographer Kevin Sprague documented this new production. Here's a preview in the form of a photo album of what happens on stage. It is great fun.
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