When I think back to the stand-out theater of this year, three shows come to mind. Two plays are familiar; one is brand new.
Centuries, a theatrical concert developed by Kate Douglas, Matthew Dean Marsh and Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez at the Summer Play Lab at Ancram Center for the Arts, brings together folk and jazz sung by incredible composers/performers/songwriters. The story focuses on a son exploring the history of his parents’ lives in Ohio, both going back and forth in time. The importance of great new music and lyrics in a show without dialog is paramount. I was swept away, and I was not alone. The audience in this small, packed theater was equally captivated. Voices meld together as if Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and James Taylor are all telling each other their stories, with neither overpowering the other, and each intently listening. I long to see this show again and hope it deservedly reaches a larger audience.
Warmly familiar with the music of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and remembering auditioning for this musical in college, I had never seen a full production, until going to Sharon Playhouse. What a delight to see a multi-talented ensemble bring my favorite characters to life. From Charlie Brown, to Lucy, to Linus, to Snoopy, to Schroeder, to little Sally, each actor fully develops each member of the Peanuts gang with joy, comedy and angst. They sing, dance and beautifully play off each other. The sets and costumes are brightly colored and comic-like. The show concludes with the Happiness song, and that was exactly my feeling. My whole family was grinning.
Speaking of smiling, I cannot remember when I laughed more than when I saw the Barrington Stage production of Boeing Boeing. Though written in the 60s, the farce, comic timing, and slapstick are timeless. A businessman, Bernard, living in France is ‘engaged’ to three different flight attendants, all on different flight schedules. Yet, with the advent of high-speed jets, each fiancée winds up arriving at the same time to the consternation of Bernard and his all-knowing housekeeper, Berthe (played by the hilarious Debra Jo Rupp), who creates a perfect ethnic cuisine fit for each attendant. Bernard’s close friend, Marc, also comes to visit, adding to the hilarity and chaos. We eagerly wait for the flight attendants to discover the ruse and for Bernard to get caught. We are engaged with Berthe’s frustration and exhaustion. Each attendant is smartly dressed in the bright color of a different country’s airline. Marc is both shocked and enamored by Bernard’s scheme, finding himself falling for these women as well. The French apartment is beautifully appointed, has many doors, and an end table with a changing photo of each attendant, depending on who is visiting.
While the theater can serve as an escape from a troubling world, Playwright, Marc Camoletti and Director Julianne Boyd, along with the cast, take us on a non-stop joyride. What a joyful evening of laughter.
The Berkshires and surrounding regions are chock-full of incredible theater. When I moved here several years ago, I feared missing the closeness of Broadway. I needn’t have been worried. We are privileged to have Broadway actors and Broadway caliber performers in numerous performance spaces. Prices are reasonable, parking is simple and free, there is no traffic, and the intimacy of the theaters enables me to often meet the actors without standing in a crowd by the stage door. Actors want to perform here and we are the lucky patrons. While I highlight these three shows, there were so many more deserving of mention. I can’t wait for the 2025 season.