I love summer theater even when it is mediocre but I hit a golden vein recently when I visited the Berkshires, specifically Williamstown Summer Theater, Williamstown, Mass and The Berkshire Theater in Stockbridge, Mass. I saw three plays in two days (drama, musical, and comedy) and felt I had hit the mother lode---they were really good and anyone who knows me knows I don't say that often. I can put them into a good, better, best line-up if that helps anyone in that area who can only see one. I think one has closed and the others have another week or so left. You can go to the respective theater websites for details.
First up is Brokology, a new play written by Nathan Louis Jackson. It is about the decisions families make that sometimes supports the family unit but can also tear it apart. It sets up the emotional struggle for one brother who chooses to set off on a different path in a different place. Education provides him the opportunity to leave his ghetto environment but that also means leaving his brother and father. Whatever choice he makes he knows will be viewed either as running away from the responsibility of caring for his ill father and leaving his brother with that burden or not having the courage to leave. Written by a rising young African American writer, the story uniquely portrays an age-old conflict in the context of a city black family.
The play is performed on the Nikos Stage at Williamstown by four accomplished actors, Wendall Pierce, April Yvette Thompson, Francois Battiste and Gaius Charles. I was particularly impressed with Francois Battiste who has appeared in New York Theater on Broadway and at the Public. He is talented and he is trained. I hope he keeps working hard because he has what it takes. This play deserves to be seen again and it provides meaty acting roles for those lucky enough to get to show off their talent in a bright new piece.
That was good, the musical, She Loves Me, on the mainstage at Williamstown, was even better. Every one delivers their role with the multi-layers required by any musical. Each one must sing, dance and act and they do it with ease, energy and talent. I have not seen across the board talent like this in a long time. Usually in a production, one or two of the cast are great and then the others fall away. This was great ensemble work and the leads were fabulous. Brooks Ashmanskas (Georg) delivers the signature song, She Loves Me, like a reincarnation of Donald O'Connor. (if anyone knows who I am talking about). The delivery boy (Jason Babinsky) sings and dances his way through, Try Me, with such grace and versatility that I could only sit with a dropped jaw at what I was seeing. This is about the performances. They lift a very likable musical into the "Hello Dolly" stratosphere. It was exciting to watch and thoroughly enjoyable. The new artistic director at Williamstown, Nicholas Martin, directed and if this is any sign of the caliber of work he will bring to this theater program, I am very excited.
And now for the best....The Book Club Play, a new play by Karen Zacarias, performed at the Berkshire Theater in Stockbridge, Mass. This was not on my agenda but decided at the last minute to drive over and see an afternoon preview and am I glad I did. The program notes indicate the playwright is prolific and has five (5) world premieres this year!! She has won many awards and this play began its path (to Broadway I hope) at the 2007 O'Neill Playwrights Conference. I would love to see her other work and will keep watch for it. This play is a play within a documentary because what is happening on stage is also being video taped. The actors work in and out of this frame which keeps them and the audience on its toes. At one point, when things are definitely out of control among the participants and they don't want themselves being recorded, the camera is covered and the stage goes black even though you can still hear their voices. No one knew how to turn off the video equipment!!!
The premise is a book club with both male and female members, how it operates, choosing books and its members and for some reason, they agree to be videotaped. At one point, there is an interloper who holds a mirror up to the group, one they find surprising and disturbing. The group decides to expel him and try to go back to who they were but cannot. The dialogue is fast, funny and realistic. Anyone who has ever been in a book club will identify but that qualification is not necessary to enjoy this play. It is funny, very funny, and full of surprises. Think Noises Off, Reality Show and a touch of Christopher Guest thrown in.
The cast is diverse both in gender, age, and ethnicity adding to the richness of the story. Sarah Marshall and Bhavesh Patel are lucky to have been cast as the more colorful characters but they bring such talent to their portrayals, the roles are lucky to have them. All of the cast is terrific!! This could play forever in regional theaters but I do hope someone takes it to the "big city." It plays until the 19th....RUN if you can to see it. You will NOT be disappointed. I guarantee it!!!
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