Give Me an Aisle Seat Any Night of the Week

Faithful readers of this blog might assume that the only plays that interest me are produced by the Falls Village Children's Theater at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. But, in fact, I love all types of theater and never turn down an opportunity to see a play or musical. I've been up to Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield twice this season and saw a searing, exceptionally well-choreographed production of West Side Story and a clever, emotionally charged new musical called Calvin Berger which was the Cyrano de Bergerac story set in a contemporary American high school. I've been to Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge three times and was blown away by the eternal power and truth in their production of A Glass Menagerie. I also saw revivals of Love! Valour! Compassion! and Morning's at Seven, and though these are not great plays, they were incredibly well acted and directed, which made the trip to Stockbridge worthwhile. Last night, Josh Stone and I went to see The Pajama Game presented by TriArts at the Sharon Playhouse. The musical is as all-American as they come and kind of sexy for a 1950s show. It always takes me a little while to adjust to theTriArts formula--a cast that mixes Equity professionals and enthusiastic local amateurs. But with a stunning set, a fine band, and first-rate costumes, The Pajama Game's cast was able to shine. (The patchwork pajama curtain that Josh is standing in front of was a tour de force.) Sure, there were a few moments that made me and Josh cringe, but that's par for the course (and, truthfully, part of the fun.) The Pajama Game is thoroughly enjoyable, another summer's night of wonderful theater close to home.