Once upon a time area theater had rather defined seasons. Most local theater companies produced September through May. What was thought of as “summer theater” began about Independence Day and closed before Labor Day.
No longer. Proctors in Schenectady has a busy June and is even presenting “The Lion King” starting August 2. Capital Rep in Albany has scheduled the musical revue, “Honky Tonk Angels,” July 14-August 20.
In reverse, Park Playhouse, who has been offering summer outdoor theater for 35 years, now operates as Playhouse Stage and produces the rest of the year at Cohoes Music Hall. This year’s summer shows at Washington Park are “Something Rotten”, June 29—July 22 and “Secret Garden”, August 3-19.
Summer theaters are now presenting before Memorial Day. Several theaters traditionally thought of as summer venues open shows this week.
Running until June 3, the Berkshire Theatre Group in Stockbridge, MA. is offering “What the Constitution Means To Me,” as a co-production with WAM Theatre Company. Written and originally performed by Heidi Schreck, the work is based on her teenage years. She earned her college tuition by competing and winning debates on the U.S. constitution. Initially the piece is about her teenage experiences and her value system taught to her by several generations of strong women.
As a mature female, she examines our founding document and its relationship to women. Somehow, despite topics of women’s rights, immigration, domestic abuse, the writing is never didactic and has a lot of humor. Heidi is played by Kate Baldwin and at play’s end she has a debate with a local teenager to ask if the constitution is out-of-date and should be revoked and rewritten. It runs at BTG’s Unicorn Theater Thursdays through Sundays until June 3. For tickets and schedules go to berkshiretheatregroup.org or call 413-997-4444.
Shakespeare & Company is offering “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” at their intimate outdoor space, Roman Gardens. It plays Fridays to Sundays through July 30. Performances are at 6:30 p.m.
The play was written by Ken Ludwig, who is best known for his comedies. Arguably “Moon Over Buffalo,” which starred Carol Burnett, is his best known work, though “Lend Me a Tenor” might be a close second. While this work also has its share of humor, it is a more sentimental sounding work.
It’s based on the courtship of his parents who came to know each other through mail during World War II. Jack is an introverted army doctor stationed in Oregon. Louise is a buoyant aspiring actress/dancer in New York City. They’ve never met, and since on-line dating sites didn’t exist, they communicated by something known as letters.
They grow fond of each other and look forward to meeting in person, But, after three years of corresponding with no end in sight for the war, they fear they never will meet each other. Happily, through their honesty in the letters they discover a mutual love of life, which eventually extends to love for each other.
In the play Ludwig also offers observations on music, literature and theater of the 1940s. Though the romance of his parents is true, the words are Ludwig’s. His mother burned the actual letters before she died. So, in some sense, this romance is also a man’s affectionate eulogy for his parents. For tickets and information go to Shakespeare.org or call 413-637-3353.
Running through June 17 is the world premiere of “The Happiest Man on Earth” at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Mass. It’s a story adapted from the biography of the same name. It tells the story of Eddie Jaku, a 100 year old man who was a Jewish prisoner of the Nazis. We learn of his harsh life in a concentration camp, but more important we see that his life afterwards was hopeful and positive. It runs Wednesdays through Sundays until June 17. For tickets and information go to barringtonstagecompany.org or call 413-236-8888.
There is also a play that is produced by a company that produces during the winter months. Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill is presenting a regional premiere of “East of Berlin.” It concerns the son of a Nazi war criminal who falls in love with the daughter of a woman who was in the Auschwitz concentration camp. It asks what sins must be borne by following generations? It plays Thursdays to Sunday through June 4. For tickets and information go to bridgest.org or call 518-943-3818
Bob Goepfert is theater reviewer for the Troy Record.
The views expressed by commentators are solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of this station or its management.
