Review: 4000 MILES at Berkshire Theatre GroupMay 20, 2024The production is well paced, charming, often funny, and yet another example of the fine, high quality theatre Berkshire audiences are fortunate to have available on a consistent basis.
Review: 10X10 NEW PLAY FESTIVAL at Barrington Stage CompanyFebruary 21, 2024Many of the pieces provide laughs, some perspective. There is a bit of song, a bit of dance, absolutely no seltzer down any pants. Overall, the 10X10 NEW PLAY FESTIVAL offers a welcomed appetizer for the upcoming season in which BSC celebrates its 30th anniversary of bringing award winning theatre to downtown Pittsfield.
Review: COPENHAGEN At Berkshire Theatre GroupOctober 4, 2023Michael Fray’s script is brilliant. He uses a delicate but superbly balanced mix of complex scientific dialogue related to Physics with general human behavior, and interpersonal dynamics. While there are ample opportunities for the non-scientific to give up based on theoretical and technical content, we are brought back into the piece.
Review: ON CEDAR STREET at Berkshire Theatre GroupAugust 21, 2023Berkshire Audiences are fortunate that we often have opportunities to experience world premiere presentations like ON CEDAR STREET. While it is difficult to say what the future may hold for the new musical, it is safe to say that the production which continues on the Larry Vaber stage at Berkshire Theatre Group’s Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge through September 2, is a delightful way to spend one of the remaining summer evenings.
Review: GOLDA'S BALCONY at Shakespeare & CompanyAugust 9, 2023Annette Miller is outstanding. She takes the audience on a fascinating and detailed journey in which she seamlessly shifts between aspects of Meir’s character ranging from nurturing caregiver to the “Iron Lady” of Israeli Politics.
Review: FAITH HEALER at Barrington Stage CompanyAugust 7, 2023Friel harnesses the power of story telling common to both that culture and contemporary theater to weave a tightly woven tapestry with such depth, richness, and color it could easily be compared to the work of the great impressionist painters. Under Boyd’s direction, Innvar, Dold, and Egolf show themselves to be consummate professionals.
Review: FENCES at Shakespeare & CompanyJuly 31, 2023Audience members quickly engage with the characters before them virtually free of any doubt or distraction. We become deeply engaged and by the time real conflict sets in during act two, we feel both for them, and with them. August Wilson’s FENCES is considered a landmark work of American theatre and he a masterful storyteller.
Review: BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY at Barrington Stage CompanyJuly 22, 2023While I won’t go so far as to say this is a must-see, it is most certainly one that should be seen. BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY represents yet another first-rate production for the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield and those involved in bringing it forward for Berkshire arts enthusiasts to enjoy.
Review: OFF PEAK at Great Barrington Public TheaterJuly 18, 2023Berkshire audiences fortunate, and wise enough to wind their way over the river and through the woods to the Daniel Arts Center McConnel Theater (on the campus of Bard College in Great Barrington) to experience Great Barrington Public Theater’s production of OFF PEAK before it closes July 23 are sure to be glad, they did. Do not miss it!
Review: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET at Berkshire Theatre GroupJuly 5, 2023Although one may learn some new tidbits about the artists, it really isn’t the thinnish volume of connective tissue incorporated between the 22 musical numbers, but those very Rock-a-Billy songs themselves, that offer the primary reason to see MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET.
Review: TINY FATHER at Barrington Stage CompanyJuly 2, 2023Overall, the presentation is synergistic as well as effective and we become absorbed in what starts out with an examination of the humorous side of reality and ends with the sense and sensibilities many face in this thing we call life.
Review: PHOTOGRAPH 51 at Berkshire Theatre GroupJune 26, 2023The subject matter, like Rosalind, does not allow for jokes. As the dialogue confirms, the world of science can be a rather lonely place. The ensemble cast is professional, polished, and well balanced.
Review: CABARET at Barrington Stage CompanyJune 19, 2023The season opening CABARET on the Boyd-Quinson Stage, should leave little doubt that Alan Paul doesn’t play around; intends to carry on in the style and tradition that Berkshire audiences have come to both anticipate, and appreciate; and Julie’s words were justified.
Review: THE HAPPIEST MAN ON EARTH at Barrington Stage CompanyMay 29, 2023St. Germain, Lagomarsino, and Tigar have woven a tight presentation that despite the often-unthinkable subject matter, intersperses a pleasantry, and even a chuckle or two. The audience is undeniably moved as evidenced by the audible responses of shock and disgust. Often taking us to the edge without going too far.
Interview: Julianne Boyd of Barrington Stage Company Bids FarewellOctober 31, 2022After 28 Seasons Julianne Boyd, co-founder and Artistic Director at Barrington Stage Company, passed a brightly burning torch and retired at the end of the 2022 season. Marc Savitt, sat down with Boyd to gather some information and insight into Boyd, her experiences, and her undeniable impact on the state of the arts in the region.
Review: SEASCAPES at Berkshire Theatre GroupOctober 3, 2022Typically, I don’t care much for works that fall into the realm of existentialism, theatre of the absurd, and the like. SEASCAPE, however, is different. Perhaps because it is primarily focused on interpersonal communication. Also, the characters, for the most part are dynamic, interesting, and rather unusual.
Review: GOLDEN LEAF RAGTIME BLUES at Shakespeare & CompanySeptember 29, 2022GOLDEN LEAF RAGTIME BLUES does provide a pleasant hour and 20 minutes of pleasant entertainment free of politics, angst and the chance to sit back and relax, and focus on something completely different for a bit which most of us can use and appreciate these days.
Review: ALL OF ME at Barrington Stage CompanySeptember 27, 2022ALL OF ME is all kinds of good. Not good for a show about a particular group or type of people, it’s just good. There is some aspect that should fit or tickle the funny bone for just about everyone. So, as the song with the same title asks: why not take ALL OF ME?
Review: WAITING FOR GODOT at Barrington Stage CompanyAugust 28, 2022Where most productions paint the duo as downtrodden and rather depressed, here the two main characters are painted with s sense of comedic timing and light-heartedness that almost seems choregraphed. A performance harkening back to some of the greatest comedic duos. The likes of Lewis and Martin, Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy.