Lillian by Tom Minter

…though it is a little foggy at present, I am ‘caffeinating’, sitting at the desk in “Mr. Pope’s room” at The Wainwright Inn, smiling as the sun works to nibble through and brighten my room..

I am back in Great Barrington; all is well with the world.

Well.. all is well in this wonderful weekend –all is expectation and celebration; the Berkshire Playwrights Lab continues to bring talent, and unexpected voices to platform; writers, actors, and everyone who facilitate this company, are in high gear, and eager to bring their best into the process and procedures of production.

I wanted to as well, but things don’t always turn out as you envision..

I mean –who would consciously envision being at the initial ‘company dinner’, in the warm home of gracious hosts, enjoying a delicious glass of red wine –only to maladroitly make emphasis with an unwise hand, and drop the contents into a Rorschach pattern of red wet on the kitchen floor..?

I mean, you don’t really think of that kind of brilliance, causing you to balk and blather and insist that your shirt was made for a 60’s tie-die expression of fermentation..

..no, not really..

..but, isn’t that the way of things?

And in all honesty: in the way of engaging ‘a moment’ –an instant, that can be turned to reflect the agitation and excitement –the desire and unease –the ‘far too many’ inexplicable twitches that construe appearance.. irrespective of real intent..

Lillian is like that; you’ll meet her at the Gala.

You’ll see her; more accurately, you’ll observe her, as she goes about, doing things that might seem.. well, a little peculiar; a little .. maladroit.. a little mad..

Much like the wine that leapt from my grip –unexpected: the image of Lillian leapt into my mind in the deep quiet, just before waking, on May 3^rd.

I remember the date distinctly; I’d gone to bed on the evening of the 2^nd with the niggling suspicion that Joe, Bob, Matt and Jim were somewhere in the process of looking over pieces for this year’s Gala, and wouldn’t it be nice if I could…

Lillian.

And she is a nightmare; mesmerizing..

That morning, May 3^rd, following the last fluttering look of her, I beat dawn to my desk, and wrote it out; I’d like to be able to say it came in one convulsive scatter of my fingers across the computer..

Well.. I’d like to say that; in any event, it came, in whole, on the 3^rd; I let it sit a day; it got to Bob on the 5^th..

The rest..

the rest you’ll see this Saturday.

But I must say, being willing to follow the unexpected convulsions of any happenstance, maladroit or exquisite, gives opportunity to take a story to details both embarrassing..

and significant.

Ask Lillian.

Rehearsal Reflections by Dipika Guha

It was wonderful for me to be in the room yesterday with Jim Frangione and three
very talented actors, Charles Socarides, Jack Cutmore-Scott, and Kaaron Briscoe
Minefee, in rehearsal for my ten minute verse play An American Dream.

I wrote this play before a trip to England with the T.S Eliot, Old Vic New Voices
Exchange for a one day festival at the Old Vic Theatre in London. It’s a large
space so I knew I wanted to write something that would both fill a big space
and give the actors a chance to demonstrate their talents. As a playwright, I love
working in direct response to my collaborative team so I asked my director what
inspires him in theatre. His list included ‘actors shouting, real toads in imaginary
gardens, T.S. Eliot quotes seamlessly undetected, and romance’. So I decided to
go full tilt and write a play directly in homage to Eliot in a style that would give the
actors permission to embrace theatricality and to fill the theatre with their voices.

What emerged was a play set in an ‘unreal city’, a dream space where magical
transformations (which are, in earnest, earthly transformations) might occur.
I sought inspiration from the comedies of Shakespeare and identity farce in
American film. I stole tropes of false identities, arbitrary romantic attachment and
a Shakesperean fool figure. I wanted to write a play where the characters could
undergo a deep transformation which impacts their capacity for love in a second;
where we might feel that change is possible now, instantaneously and in the
moment.

Embracing these transformations is challenge that these actors were taking
on with grace and poise. Jim is a wonderful reader and it was a treat to watch
him guiding the actors on the rhythm of the verse and how to use the rhythm to
clarify meaning. Jim being also an incredibly kind, mindful director, created an
open room where we could all pitch in with our thoughts and questions. It made
for an incredibly light and positive rehearsal room and allowed for everyone to
collaborate fully.

I love rehearsal more than I do any other part of the production process. I was
thrilled to be in the room yesterday and wish them a myriad broken limbs on
Saturday!

Winner of two Gala tickets announced!

If you were walking down Railroad Street last weekend, you may have noticed our interns on the sidewalk hawking tickets. They were also holding a drawing for two orchestra seats to our gala.  Ta da... the winner is: Jack Budnick.  Congratulations Jack!  

Meanwhile... back in the office, we are preparing to welcome the many playwrights, directors, and actors who will arrive in the next few days to rehearse for the Gala show Saturday June 9th, 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe.  It's exciting to be back in production after working in the quiet of our office on Railroad Steet during the off season.

Lori Bashour, our General Manager says,
"This is when the fun starts.  I like the organizing and preparing, but what I really LOVE about my job is watching the process unfold from the concept of 'Let's put on a show,' to Saturday night when the lobby of the Mahaiwe fills with patrons... many of whom I have lived with in this community for years. It's really moving to be present in the audience and hear everyone laughing and crying-- reacting to the pieces. It's rewarding work." 

This is the first year we are presenting more than new "plays."  We will also have new "songs" and a new "short screenplay."   If you have come to our annual gala in the past, this is not one of the years you will want to miss. The Mahaiwe is selling the show only tickets through their box office and online, but the premium reception tickets can only be purchased through the BPL office.  Call 413-528-2544.  You can also purchase show only tickets through our BPL office which is open 9-5.  The Mahaiwe box office opens at Noon, Wed - Saturday.

Meet the Interns: Emily

Emily

Hometown: Seattle
School/year/Major: Willamette University/Senior/Theatre (performance emphasis), English







How did you get involved in theatre?
My parents were both involved in theatre and enrolled me in acting classes when I was pretty young. I started acting in plays at Seattle Children's Theatre and really liked it.

What are your future ambitions in the theatre?
I'd like to be a playwright, but I enjoy doing a little bit of everything. Directing would be really cool too.

What is your favorite play and why?
I'm not sure I could pick one. Maybe The Duchess of Malfi or Macbeth; I like anything Jacobean. Or I really like Angels in America by Tony Kushner. Or anything by Beckett. I guess I have a lot of favorites.

If you could have a superpower what would it be?
I'd love to be able to sing. Does that count as a superpower? Or I wouldn't mind being able to turn invisible.Or I could go with Melissa's brilliant idea of having mind control powers and making everyone around me just think I'm invisible and can sing!

Meet the Interns: Melissa

Melissa

Hometown: I've had a few, right now I'm in Westminster, Colorado
School/year/Major: Lynchburg College/Graduated 2011/Theatre (acting emphasis), Elementary Education







How did you get involved in theatre?
I did a few little plays in elementary school, but my family moved around so much that I couldn't really get settled anywhere until I was older. In high school I was cast in the Hobbit as a dwarf and realized that acting was way more fun than playing sports, so I stuck with it.

What are your future ambitions in the theatre?
Anything involving acting or directing or even settling down one day and opening my own children's theatre.

What is your favorite play and why?
Peter Pan because it was the first play that I ever saw and it made me want to become involved in theatre.

If you could have a superpower what would it be?
Since Morgan already took time travel I guess I'd like to be able to fly even though I'm terrified of heights.Wait, but if I time travel to the future then I can go to a time when they invent ways of making people fly, so maybe I'll still go with that.

Meet the Interns: Morgan

The office staff is working hard to make sure that the upcoming gala stays on track. The interns took a few minutes off to answer some questions:

Morgan

Hometown: New York, NY
School/year/Major: Dickinson College/Senior/Theatre, French









How did you get involved in theatre?
I guess I've just sort of always been around theatre, living in NY and all. I started dancing at a young age and then branched out into acting. I immediately knew that this was something I loved.

What are your future ambitions in the theatre?
Haha, I don't know. There are so many aspects of theatre, I couldn't really pick one. I just know that I want to stay involved and do as much as I can. I love new experiences.

What is your favorite play and why?
I'm going to say my favorite play from this season because I couldn't pick my favorite play of all time. I loved Peter and the Starcatchers and in terms of musicals I'd have to say Newsies or Once.

If you could have a superpower what would it be?
I would love to time-travel because I want to go back and see important historical events. I'm especially interested in the Tudors; when I was a kid I could recite Anne Boleyn's speech. Also, if I time travel, I could be the next Doctor Who!

The summer is off to a great start at the Berkshire Playwrights Lab. Our staff is preparing for the upcoming Gala, featuring a new short piece by David Mamet; actors Elizabeth Franz, Jay Thomas and Treat Williams; the premiere of a short film written and directed by Joe Cacaci starring Minnie Driver and Tony Shalhoub (along with a video greeting from the stage by Joe Mantegna); and new songs by new composers from the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program!

For tickets to the Gala contact Berkshire Playwrights Lab by phone at 413-528-2544 or e-mail reservations@berkshireplaywrightslab.org.
Show only tickets can be purchased through the Mahaiwe box office in person at 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington Wed – Sun 12 – 5 or online at mahaiwe.org.

Keep checking back for a look behind the scenes as the Berkshire Playwrights Lab launches our 5th season!