Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, September, 1998 The Dorset Theatre Festival is closing its 1998 season with a splendid and moving production of Jon Marans’ play “Old Wicked Songs” directed by Mark S. Ramont. And why, you might ask, should I get in my car and drive all the way…

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, September, 1998 Weston Playhouse is closing its 1998 season with a production of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie”. This is a first for Weston – in all its 62 years of producing plays it has never mounted Williams’ 1945 classic. It may be a first…

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, September, 1998 The production of Sam Shepard’s “Simpatico” at the Manic Stage in North Adams is theatre with a capital “T”. Actor/director Spencer Trova and company have mounted a riveting production of a dark and complex play. I say “…and company” because this truly is…

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, September, 1998 When I was an aspiring teenage playwright, there were very few female playwrights for me to use as role models. In fact, there was only one – Lillian Hellman (1905-1984). Naturally, I was interested in who this one pioneer was and what she…

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 This is the funniest tragedy I have ever seen. I laughed till I cried, and never harder than when the main character fell head first into his chateau briand, dead as a doornail. The BTF press kit calls “An Empty Plate at the…

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 Charles Ludlam (1943-1987) was one of the leading players of the off-off- Broadway avant-garde theatre scene in New York City for over twenty years. Between the time he founded his Ridiculous Theatre Company in 1967 until his death due to complications from AIDS…

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 “A View from the Roof” focuses on three generations of women and the impact one man’s heartless act has on them, and on him. But you don’t realize that until about an hour after you’ve left the theatre. Playwright Dave Carley has crafted…

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, August, 1998 There are two things you need to know at the outset. First, this is Greek tragedy we are discussing here. Hecuba is two hours of angst, grief, death, revenge, self-pity, misery, and helplessness. Second, the title character is referred to by her Greek…