by Emily Edelman Living Room Theatre’s “Amor & Psyche: A Mythological Comedy” is taken from the classical story included in the second-century work “Metamorphosis” by Apuleius. LRT co-founder Randolyn Zinn’s retelling moves quickly with updated language and situations that connect with a modern audience without undermining the source material. Director…
by Emily Edelman Dorset Theatre Festival’s production of “Native Gardens” by Karen Zacarías deals with the serious topics of racial discrimination, environmentalism, ageism, class issues and more in an easily accessible and funny way by framing them against a property dispute among neighbors. Young Latinx couple Tania and Pablo Del…
by Emily Edelman The North American premiere of Oren Safdie’s “Survival of the Unfit” from Great Barrington Public Theater showcases the story of 39-year-old Samuel, who brings new girlfriend Mallory home to have dinner with his parents. What seems in the beginning to be an ordinary dinner with passive aggressive parents, their…
by Emily Edelman Berkshire Theatre Group’s “Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein,” being staged at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is as delightfully funny as you’d expect while also being perfectly acted and produced. Based on the classic 1974 Mel Brooks film, the plot follows the activities of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein…
by Emily Edelman “Shake It Up: A Shakespearean Cabaret” was conceived by actor Jacob Ming-Trent and Shakespeare and Company artistic director Allyn Burrows as a way for devotees of the Bard as well as those not as well versed in his oeuvre to enjoy his words juxtaposed with songs inspired…
by Emily Edelman Barrington Stage Company’s 10X10 New Play Festival is a welcome break in the doldrums of winter in the Berkshires, and this year’s 13th annual edition continued the tradition of ten 10-minute plays by diverse writers in a fast-paced evening of bite-sized vignettes. The opening number, a lively…
by Emily Edelman Bennington Community Theater’s collection of eight short plays, titled “Slideshow,” depicts the stories several neighboring families and is so named in honor of the slideshows of family vacations that co-director Jennifer Jasper’s parents would project on their living room wall. Curated by Jasper, the plays dive deeply…
by Emily Edelman Nick Payne’s “Constellations,” currently being staged by Living Room Theatre in North Bennington, Vermont, was written to be played by two actors working through the relationship of physicist Marianne and beekeeper Roland. LRT utilizes six actors (three for each part), which might be confusing in any other…
