The Smith College Department of Theatre presents Merry Me by Hansol Jung on February 25, 26, 27, 28 at 7:30 pm in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre, directed by Lynne Marie Rosenberg. When a mysterious blackout leaves a navy stranded near enemy territory, the libidinous Lieutenant Shane Horne puts her very…
by Paula Kaplan-Reiss The title, A Case for the Existence of God playing at Chester Theatre Company gives little hint to the theme of this moving play between two actors. Playwright, Samuel D. Hunter, best known for his Oscar winning screenplay adaptation of his play, The Whale, opened this play…
by Macey Levin Mark St. Germain. a prolific local playwright, is known for “Freud’s Last Session,” which was filmed starring Anthony Hopkins, and “Becoming Dr. Ruth” among other wonderful productions seen in the Berkshire area. His most recent play, “Magdalene,” is a mesmerizing exploration of memory and interpretation under the…
by Macey Levin Into Kilnsea, a small village in northern England, a stranger enters the local cafe and changes life for four lost souls. The opening of Big Big Sky by Tom Wells at Chester Theatre Company, Chester, Massachusetts, may sound familiar as a story-telling device as it evolves into…
by Mark G. Auerbach (This review originally appeared in Westfield News. Used with the author’s permission.) There are three heroes onstage in Chester Theatre’s 35th season finale, the American Premiere of Tom Wells’ Big Big Sky. First hero is Joel Ripka, an actor with multiple Chester credits, who stepped in at…
by Macey Levin  Chester Theatre Company, Chester, Massachusetts, has built a reputation of producing provocative plays. Their most recent production of Unreconciled, workshopped and given its world premiere at Chester, is about to move to London. The current offering Will Sacrifice by Julie McKee is another premiere. It doesn’t match…
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 Macey Levin The Chester Theatre Company is known for producing off-beat plays. They have topped themselves with the intellectually and emotionally challenging The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath. Hilda (Tara Franklin) has an opening monologue in which she describes her relationship with her grandmother who has taught her how…
