Great Barrington Public Theater Stages East Coast Premiere of David Mamet’s “The Christopher Boy’s Communion”

“..now, like everything in life, it’s time to pay the price.” Great Barrington Public Theater caps its eclectic season of new plays with a new drama by David Mamet, The Christopher Boy’s Communion, in performance July 29 – August 8 at the Daniel Arts Center at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in…

REVIEW: “The Chalk Garden” at the Ghent Playhouse

by Fred Baumgarten Every generation, it seems, must have its “Chalk Garden.” Major revivals pop up every decade or so like crocuses sprouting in spring. And then there’s the popularity the 1955 Enid Bagnold play enjoys in regional theater, perhaps owing to its meaty dialogue and eccentric characters. Is it…

REVIEW: “The Elves and The Shoemaker” Panto 2018

After two years of good-but-not-great Panto productions, the Pantoloons at the Ghent Playhouse have regained their mojo and are currently tearing up the stage with a hum-dinger of a holiday treat. The Elves and The Shoemaker is funny, timely, and colorful. The script and songs, concocted by director Cathy Lee-Visscher…

REVIEW: “Damn Yankees” at the Mac-Haydn Theatre

by Barbara Waldinger The Mac-Haydn Theatre, celebrated for its spectacular musical revivals, opened its 50th season with the Tony-award winning Damn Yankees. The performance delivered on its promise of outstanding singer/dancers directed (by John Saunders) and choreographed (by Brian Knowlton) to a fare-thee-well. Damn Yankees first opened in 1955, written…

REVIEW: “Cabaret” at the Ghent Playhouse

A Snapshot of the Weimar Republic by Barbara Waldinger The classic Kander and Ebb musical CABARET portrays sexual depravity as a metaphor for the decadence of 1931 Germany, where the Nazis were poised on the cusp of power.  At least that was director Sam Mendes’s concept when he reimagined the…