American Underground

Barrington Stage Company presents American Underground at the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage through October 20. This is a production that should not be missed. The play is absorbing minute by minute while raising questions that the audience will want to think about and discuss. The play opens with a man watching a game on his computer while his wife is worried that their son who attends college has not yet come home. When he arrives, they are relieved and Dad starts the barbecue. Although the boy is disturbed by what happened at the mall, all seems manageable until later that night there is a knock at the glass porch door. A young Muslim woman is asking for help. What happens  next you need to see for yourself.

After listening to our discussion of American Underground

Call for tickets at 413-236-8888 or go to Barrington Stage website

For what others have said, check Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

While waiting for your tickets to arrive watch this video

Natascia Diaz, Allan H. Green, Kathleen McNenny and Justin Winters

Rasha Zamamiri and Justin Winters

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

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

Time Flies and Other Comedies

Barrington Stage Company presents Time Flies and Other Comedies at the St. Germain Stage through July 27. This delightful assortment of six comedies with five versatile actors moving through the various situations with flair and brilliant comedic timing. Each play is quite different and the actors change into the clothes, characters and situations with remarkable ease. The playwright, David Ives is well-know for his various sets of short plays that are challenging and amusing. This cast keeps the audience attentive and amused through all these unique and delightful plays.

After clicking below to listen to our discussion,

Discussion of Time Flies and Other Comedies   

Go to the Barrington Stage web site   or call 413-236-8888 for tickets and information about the rest of the season.

For other information and reviews click on Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

Carson Elrod, Cary Donaldson, Debra Jo Rupp and Ruth Pferdehirt in Enigma Variations

Carson Elrod and Debra Jo Rupp in Variations on the Death of Trotsky

Carson Elfoed, Debra Joe Rupp, Cary Donaldson, Jeff McCarthy and Ruth Pferdehirt in The Mystery at Twicknam Vicarage

Into The Woods

Barrington Stage presents Into The Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine through July 13 at their Boyd-Quinson Mainstage.  This landmark musical is as enchanting as ever in this outstanding production. None of its magic is lost as this fairy tale world unfolds with its joys and challenges. From the first production we ever saw at Barrington Stage of Mack and Mabel quite a few years ago, Bob and I have always enjoyed this company’s musicals. Listen to our discussion by clicking below,

Into the Woods discussion

Then go to their web site Barrington Stage Company  or call 413-236-8888

You can also check out reviews of the show at   Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

 

 

America V.2.1: The Sad Demise & Eventual Extinction of the American Negro

America V.2.1: The Sad Demise & Eventual Extinction of the American Negro  is at the St. Germain Stage of The Barrington Stage Company through June 30. It offers a unique theatrical experience and should not be missed.  It simultaneously comments on our past, present and future in regard to race in this country. The Barrington Stage Company is in its 25th year and during that time it has offered a range of thought provoking, always engaging plays. We have seen fresh productions of traditional musicals and new interpretations of classical plays as well as new musicals and new plays, often on the St. Germain Stage. This production is in the Barrington Stage tradition of plays that challenge you while you are enjoying them, giving you much to savor and think about as you recall them.

Listen to our discussion of the play, by clicking below

Discussion of The Sad Demise and Eventual Extinction of the American Negro

Then go to the Barrington Stage website for tickets and information about the rest of the season

Barrington Stage

or call 413-236-8888

 

10×10 New Play Festival – Barrington Stage

For its eighth year, Barrington Stage is presenting its 10×10 New Play Festival. Ten plays ten minutes long are presented by six actors. It is amazing how much can be told in ten minutes. The six equity actors are Michael Fell, Sarah Goeke, DeShawn Mitchell, Keri Safran , Peggy Pharr Wilson and Robert Zukerman,, transforming into a range of different characters confronting different situations. With a minimum of props they present full stories that delight the audience.  If you have never seen such a display of talent, you should and if you have, you are sure to want to see more.

Click below to hear Bob and I discuss this year’s offerings.

Discussion of 10×10 plays.

Then click below to order tickets

Barrington Stage Company

                          Cold Feet with Sarah Goeke and Keri Safran

 

The Music of The Glass Menagerie

The Music of the Glass Menagerie:

One of the elements that makes the current production of The Glass Menagerie  at Barrington Stage’s Boyd-Quinson Theatre special is the lovely viola music that is played live  throughout the performance.  Integrated with the lyricism of Tennesse Williams poetic language, it adds to the magic of the play.  As a part of Barrington Stage’s outreach into the community, Artistic Director, Julianne Boyd, along with composer Alexander Sovronsky and violist, Susan French talked about this music at the Berkshire Athenaeum  on Thursday, October 11.  Bob and I  recorded the discussion which you can listen to by clicking below. The insights that the discussion provided in terms of how music is integrated into a play are valuable in terms of deepening one’s appreciation of the process in the creation of a production.  The Glass Menagerie  runs through October 21 and should not be missed.

Discussion of The Music of The Glass Menagerie

For tickets to the play, click on the Barrington Stage website. On October 17 and 18, Berkshire Residents receive a 25% discount.

Barrington Stage website

Julianne Boyd

           Alexander Sovronsky

                Susan French

 

 

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The Glass Menagerie – Barrington Stage

The Glass Menagerie plays at Barrington Stage’s Boyd-Quinson Theatre through October 21 in a remarkable production that captures the magic and the poetry of Tennesse William’s memory play. Narrated by Tom Wingfield, we see Tom, his sister Laura, his mother Amanda and a Gentleman Caller as they exist   in Tom’s memory. This is a play you can see many times and still be freshly absorbed in the story and the characters.  In every production, the cast offers their unique vision that engages you once more. Bob and I were fortunate to interview the full cast after we had seen the play.

Click below to listen to our interview

The Glass Menagerie Cast Interview

Then go to the Barrington Stage web site or call 413 236 8888. Check on their special ticket prices for Berkshire residents and others.

Barrington Stage website

Read what the critics said

Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

Watch these videos

https://youtu.be/BsFQ-WnUdeQ

https://youtu.be/WO60bphdhrQ  

 

 

 

A Doll’s House

A Doll’s House Part 2 is playing on the main stage at Barrington Stage until July 28. In 1879 A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen opened in Copenhagen, Denmark.  When Nora Helmer left her husband and children at the end of the play, the slamming door was  heard around the world since it dealt with the changing role of women. Nora had taken a loan illegally to pay for a trip to benefit her husband’s health. When she was threatened with blackmail, her husband Torvald turned on her, only to accept her action  when the threat was removed.

In 2017, Lucas Hnanth picked up the story imagining what happens fifteen years later when Nora returns   home.  This  sequel  is generating a great deal of discussion as did the original play.

Click below for the discussion Bob and I had about the play.

Discussion of  A Doll’s House  Part 2

Click to order tickets below or call (413) 236-8888

Barrington Stage website

For more views about the play, click below

Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

Click on picture below for video