Water, Water, Everywhere

Oldcastle Theatre presents the world premiere of Water, Water Everywhere  Friday, October 4. The play runs Thursday to Sunday until October 20. Set in a fictional Vermont town, the play deals with the issue of contaminated water, a problem currently facing many communities. Along the way, WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE is a play with comedy, mystery and romance.  Eric Peterson, Artistic Producing Director of Oldcastle, wrote and directed the play. Bob and I had the pleasure of interviewing Eric and two of the actors, Patrick  Shea and Natalie Wilder.  Patrick and Natalie enjoy returning to Oldcastle  where they met. Eric, Natalie and Patrick  discuss the process by which the play came to life as the actors portray  characters who populate the small town world the reporters of the local newspaper are exploring.

Water, Water Everywhere Interview

After listening to the interview, go to the Oldcastle website  or call 802-442-1267 for tickets

 

 

Natalie Wilder and Ed Rosini

Time Stands Still

Time Stands Still plays at Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, Massachusetts through October 13. The play  addresses much that concerns us as we watch television or read magazines and newspapers and see the visual accounts of distant wars. The story is also a personal one of people in complicated relationships. As usual at Shakespeare and Company, the actors absorb you into their world of these friends and lovers. We always marvel at how skillfully the actors  move from Shakespeare to contemporary plays and are fully the specific characters they are performing. This is absorbing theatre on every level. Listen to our brief comments on the play Time Stands Still

Watch the trailer Time Stands Still trailer

Read the reviews Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

Call the Shakespeare  and Company Box Office 413-637-3353 or go to their website Shakespeare and Company website

Mark Zeisler, Caroline Calkins, David Joseph and Tamara Hickey

 

David Joseph, Mark Zeisler and Caroline Calins

 

Mark Zeislre, David Joseph and Tamara Hickey

Slow Food

The Dorset Theatre Festival presents Slow Food, a delightful comedy through August 31. This play  ends a fine season of plays at the Festival. While you are laughing at this play, you care about the characters. The three actors, Peri Gilpin, Dan Butler and Greg Stuhr are wonderful in their parts. The audience may be laughing continuously, but the couple is earnestly focused on getting  dinner while the waiter presents obstacle after obstacle in his equally earnest attempt to help them get only the very best. Since this play has a short run, click on our discussion below.

Slow Food Discussion 

Then go to the Dorset Theatre Festival website or call (802) 867-2223

For reviews check Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

Peri Gilpin, Dan Butler and Greg Stuhrr

Oklahoma!

The Mac-Haydn Theatre presents  Oklahoma! through September 1. This last production of a successful season of outstanding productions of a variety of musicals should not be missed. There have been many productions  recently of this American classic, first performed in 1943. This one must be among the finest thanks to the wonderful performers, the  intimacy of the arena stage at the Mac-Haydn and the fine direction by John Saunders.   Bob an I had the pleasure of talking to the three  principals who play Curly, Laurie, and Jud before the opening night performance. Once again, we were awed by the transformation that takes place when actors become different people on stage. Listen to the thoughtful discussion by clicking on this link, Oklahoma! Discussion

Then click on Mac-Haydn Theatre website or call (519) 3929292 for tickets.

For other opinions click on Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

Rob Brinkmann (Jud) Meredith Lustig (Laurey) and James Benjamin Rodgers (Curly)

Cathy Lee Visscher (Aunt Eller) and other cast members

James Benjamin Rodgers (Curly) and Meredith Lustig (Laurey)

 

 

Fall Springs

Barrington Stage Company presents a world premiere musical, Fall Springs at the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage through August 31. This musical shows that tackling contemporary problems through music can be entertaining while conveying a message. Gimmie Science is a delightful song that should be heeded.  Given the environmental issues we face, this is a timely reminder that even small towns have choices to make for their own welfare. The talented cast makes these points through the lively music and dialogue so that even as disaster strikes, there is hope. Click on link

Fall Springs Discussion for our thoughts about the production.

For information and tickets go to Barrington Stage Company or call 413-236-8888

For reviews click on Bershire Theatre Critics Association

Topdog/Underdog

 Topdog/Underdog plays at Shakespeare and Company’s Tina Packer Theatre through September 8. The play by Suzan-Lori Parks was named by the New York Times as the most important American play in the last twenty-five years. Set in the present, the play is haunted by the history of black families in the United States. Dealing with issues that resonate in their personal lives, the brothers are also facing the  larger problem of survival. Booth is a skilled shop lifter and Lincoln is a reformed card shark.  In the small space they share emotions range from brotherly love to sibling rivalry as they help and hurt each other. There are joyous moments and sad ones. You can listen to what Bob and I thought of the play by clicking on Topdog/Underdog discussion. 

For tickets click on Shakespeare and Company   or call (413) 637-3353

For reviews click on Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

Watch the video of the cast and director discussing the play

Deaon Griffin-Pressley and Bryce Michael Wood

 

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Shakespeare and Company presents The Merry Wives of Windsor through September 1. This rollicking comedy is presented outdoors in The Roman Garden Theatre. This lovely space is ideal for the comings and goings of the various characters. Queen Elizabeth must have been delighted to see how the women outwitted the men. Shakespeare’s comedies often border on farce. One can imagine the Bard of Avon being a top comedy writer in every period and with every medium. Some of the great comedians of film and television would have found his material just what they wanted. This comedy should be produced more frequently than it is. Bob and I discuss this production in greater detail. Click on the link Discussion of Merry Wives of Windsor

For tickets click on Shakespeare and Company   or call (413) 637-3353

For reviews click on Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

Then watch Director Kevin Coleman video

 

Nigel Gore, Jennie Jadow and MaConnia Chesser

Cloteal l. Horne and Nigel Gore

Martin Jason Aspre7, Tobias Goodman, Jennie Jadow and MaConnia Chesser

If I Forget

Barrington Stage Company  presents If I Forget at the St. Germain Stage through Saturday, September 7.  Take a short trip back in time to 2000 and 2001 and visit with this Jewish American family as they deal with the personal and social issues confronting American families in the 21st century. The brother and two sisters gather to celebrate the 75th birthday of their recently widowed father. We see the tensions and the love typical of  families who have their  problems and secrets. Memories of their mother and their childhood blend with memories of Jewish history and tradition. There is humor and struggle as they confront their own and their family’s strengths and weaknesses. Bob and I were busily discussing the play from the time we left the theatre until now and will probably continue discussing it. . You can listen in to one of our discussions by clicking on If I Forget Discussion

For other views of the play click on  Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

For tickets and information go to Barrington Stage Company website or call 413-236-8888

  J. Anthony Crane, Lena Kaminsky, and Laura Jordan

Robert Zuckerman and Laura Jordan

 

Kathleen Wise and J. Anthony Crane

J. Anthony Crane, Lena Kaminsky, and Laura Jordan

The Little Shop of Horrors

Mac-Haydn presents The Little Shop of Horrors through August 18. The play opened on Broadway in 1982, but it still engages audience in its science fiction fantasy about what can happen with plants. On opening night before the show, Bob and I interviewed three of the leads. Emily Kron who plays Audrey, Andrew Burton Kelley who plays Seymour Krelborn, and Pat Moran who plays the dentist, Orin Scrivello. We have enjoyed their performances in past productions, but it still amazes us that three, pleasant, articulate actors can so completely become other people.  on stage. It is also amazing how many musical worlds audiences can enter during a season at Mac-Haydn Theatre. From King Arthur’s court to Sunset Boulevard’ and along the way  a Boston Theatre, a, Chicago high school, and on to 19th century America, and with this show  to a run-down flower shop with Oklahoma as the last stop on the journey. Seeing the ensemble transform as they sing and dance  through the many  different costumes, sets and  music is  as exciting as the transformation of the leading actors in their various roles. Little Shop of Horrors is funny, sweet and sad with wonderful music.  After you listen to our interview by clicking on Little Shop of Horrors Interview 

Watch this Little Shop of Horrors video

Then for tickets and information go to the Mac-Haydn website or call  (518) 392 9292 

Andrew Burton Kelley, Emily Kron and George Dvorsky

Andrew Burton Kelley and Emily Kron

Maya Cuevas, Madi Cupp-Enyard, Angel Harrison and Pat Moran

 

Judevine

Oldcastle Theatre presents Judevine by David Budbill from August 16 through September 1. This is a unique vision of Vermont shown through the eyes of one of its most outstanding writers. Six actors play more than forty characters as we see a small town in Northern Vermont come alive through the people who inhabit it. This is a classic play that Oldcastle has produced before. Each time it is different as both the audience and the actors are different. This is theatre as it should be, a melding of the writers’, the actors’    and the audience’s imagination to create a familiar world that still has many surprises. Bob and I have always enjoyed the various productions and are looking forward to this one. We had the pleasure of interviewing two of the actors,  Christine Decker and Justin Pietropaolo in between rehearsals.

Judevine Interview

For tickets and information visit oldcastletheatre.org  or call 802-447-0564

Rehearsal pictures