7.24.08
New Yorker illustrators to speak at The Mount
[PRESS RELEASE] Team behind New Yorkistan cover to sign books on Saturday, July 26
7.24.08
[THEATER REVIEW] The Violet Hour at Barrington Stage Company
review by CHRIS NEWBOUND of VARIETY and BERKSHIRE LIVING
7.24.08
[DANCE REVIEW] Alonzo King's Lines Ballet at Jacob's Pillow
review by SETH ROGOVOY, Berkshire Living Magazine
7.23.08
Woodworkers to strut their stuff
[PRESS RELEASE] Annual exhibition at Berkshire Botanical Garden July 26-27
7.23.08
Marilyn Kalish painting of Lady Macbeth finds home at Shakespeare and Company
[PRESS RELEASE] Local artist and gallery owner's work hangs in new theater
7.22.08
Singer-songwriter Jess Klein returns to region
[PRESS RELEASE] Performs at Club Helsinki on August 17
7.22.08
Doctors remove malignant growth from James Levine's kidney
[PRESS RELEASE] No evidence cancer has spread
7.20.08
Why can't we do it the British way?
The English reduce carbon footprints of drafty old Victorian homes
7.13.08
[MUSIC REVIEW] Los Lobos at the Mahaiwe
Review by Seth Rogovoy, BERKSHIRE LIVING Magazine
11.14.07
Too much monkey business in New Delhi
from the New York Times
7.11.08
John Williams to conduct score to new Indiana Jones movie at Tanglewood
[Press release] 2008 TANGLEWOOD SEASON, WEEK FOUR, JULY 25-31
7.10.08
[DANCE REVIEW] Hofesh Shechter Company at Jacob's Pillow
review by SETH ROGOVOY, Berkshire Living Magazine
7.6.08
[MUSIC REVIEW] Les Troyens, Part I, Tanglewood
review by SETH ROGOVOY, Berkshire Living Magazine
7.9.08
BERNICE LEWIS TO PERFORM FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT AT THE CLARK JULY 15
[PRESS RELEASE] Berkshire's top new-folk singer-songwriter to gig before the hometown crowd
7.7.08
The Dollyrots to Perform at Rock On! Indie Band Camp Workshop
[PRESS RELEASE] Concert at BCC on July 31
7.7.08
The Dollyrots to Perform at Rock On! Indie Band Camp Workshop
[PRESS RELEASE] Concert at BCC on July 31
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[THEATER REVIEW] Our Town at Hartford Stage
9.10.07
Our Town
Hartford Stage, Hartford, Conn.; 489 seats; $64 top)
By CHRIS NEWBOUND for VARIETY
A Hartford Stage presentation of a play in three acts by Thornton Wilder. Directed by Gregory Boyd. Sets, Jeff Cowie; costumes, Alejo Vietti; lighting, Rui Rita
Stage Manager - Hal Holbrook
Dr. Gibbs - Ross Bickell
Joe Crowell - Jacob Lombardi
Howie Newsome - Bill Kux
Mrs. Gibbs - Josie de Guzman
Mrs. Webb - Annalee Jefferies
George Gibbs - Donovan Patton
Rebecca Gibbs - Erin S. Courtney
Emily Webb - Ginna Carter
Editor Webb - Frank Converse
Simon Stimson - Noble Shropshire
To kick off its 44th year and 10th for artistic director Michael Wilson, the Hartford Stage opens its season with the perennial crowd favorite Our Town. Here, legendary star Hal Holbrook takes his turn as the Stage Manager, just as Paul Newman did in Westport only a few years back. And while other townspeople ably fulfill their familiar roles as newspaper editor, mother, doctor, daughter, in a mostly by-the-book production, it's Holbrook's night as he provides a tender poignancy and appropriate melancholic note to the sold-out proceedings.
Looking almost as spry and battle-ready as ever, Holbrook, 82, is no doubt approaching the end of his long, varied and illustrious career. This isn't, however, merely a case of trotting out a popular actor in his waning years, but more a case of perfect casting.
Holbrook, who's played the part twice before (at the Long Wharf Theater and for television), has the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment he wanders out onto Jeff Cowies' minimalist stage. One has trouble imagining a more appropriate stage manager -- and that includes Newman.
Capably helmed here by Gregory Boyd with look-sharp period costumes from Alejo Vietti and subtle, evocative lighting by Rui Rita, the rest of the company is more than able as well; it's the play that is a little worse for wear.
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