Shera Cohen is the Webmaster of In the Spotlight, Inc., a site which covers performing arts events in the Connecticut River Valley communities in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Berkshire on Stage is now collaborating with Shera to expand our reach and bring you more information on theatre to the east of the Berkshires.
PROFESSIONAL THEATRE
“Boeing, Boeing”
Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA
Straight play
With low expectations, this production deserves an A+. Having seen the movie version many years ago, and disliking it intensely, the key factors for my attending “Boeing, Boeing” were its lead actors. It took the talents of this exceptionally skilled triumvirate – Mark H. Dold, Christopher Innvar, and Debra Jo Rupp – to create a passe, moldy, and salacious play script into one of the finest, humorous, and exuberant theatre productions this side of the CT River, the Berkshires, and/or sans singing; musicals usually have an advantage when writing a theatre “best of” list.
COMMUNITY THEATRE
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”
Opera House Players, Enfield, CT
Musical
For a community theatre troupe to tackle “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” OHP’s production was an anticipated “must see”. Hartford Stage premiered “Guide” a few years ago, then it quickly went to Broadway. Under the eye of an astute director, Marla Ladd, with a precise awareness of timing, “Guide” was a musical on speed dial. Equally fit for the job was its star Zach Bakken in the roles of 8 characters. Yes, that’s 8. To me, there is little difference between professional and community theatre. The major contrast is money: to hire, to build sets, to print programs, to stock the concession stand, etc.