“The word theatre comes from the Greeks. It means “the seeing place.” It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation.”
— Stella Adler
There’s a charm to intimate spaces and out-of-the-way places, to skirting lusher and more mainstream venues.
One feels as if one were somehow witnessing, whatever it may be, the music, movie or live theater — almost secretly, unbeknownst to the big wide world that is so overwhelmingly much with us, not unlike the way we once did as children.
In spite of years of consistent productions, The Actors Theatre Playhouse remains such a well-kept secret. Nestled just across the Connecticut River from Brattleboro, Vt. in West Chesterfield, N.H., it emerges, season after season, with offbeat, adventurous and intriguing offerings, despite its relatively modest infrastructure and resources.
In addition to its modest setting, seemingly in the middle of nowhere on a bucolic road, it inhabits what was built as a citizens hall in 1886, now honeycombed with museum of sorts, the playhouse itself and a receiving space.
Following are some randomly selected online response of visitors to the Playhouse — comments which, in general, tend to resonate my own experience.
“High level performances of intriguing works. The theater building itself is quirky and delightful. Alas, it is not fully accessible, so stairs may be a challenge for some audience members.”
“Always fun. They are not afraid to try new things. A great local experience. We have seen plays here for years, and it is always an uplifting and enjoyable experience.”
“Love the theater/like the shows. That about sums up my experience after seeing three of the Playhouse’s three full-scale productions in 2012 and 2013. Theater is a very personal experience, so I will say that the setting is delightful and the ticket prices are remarkably inexpensive. One play was excellent, another was good and a third was mediocre.”
“I’ve seen many productions at Actors Theatre Playhouse, and never been disappointed. The annual ‘Ten-Minute Play Festival’ is always a hoot, you never know what will happen next! ‘Now and Then’ in July was amazing; a minimally staged version of a musical still being written; interesting story, believable characters, unexpected plot twists, intelligent dialogue and lyrics and catchy music.”
The Playhouse has just completed a three-week run of its “Ten-Minute Play Festival,” a series offering a slew of mini-premieres to the public.
The Festival was established to encourage the production of new works from New England writers, while exposing our actors and new directors to the techniques and practices of working with playwrights and producing new plays.
This festival is a win-win. The playwright gets his or her play produced and ATP directors get an opportunity to refine their craft in a collaborative atmosphere.
The final selection of scripts is selected by a committee of playhouse directors according to such criteria as how effectively plays could be staged in its space, what scripts would work together for a balanced evening of theater, as well as their relevance for prospective audiences.
Call to authors
Indeed, with its goals of encouraging the production of new works from regional writers, and exposing their actors and directors to the challenges of working with new playwrights and plays, ATP has just sent out an email soliciting contenders for its 10th annual Ten-Minute Play Festival. Anyone wishing to toss their script in the ring needs to email it by Aug. 31 to: atplay15@gmail.com
Six to eight winners and alternates will subsequently be announced to all participants by mid-November. While not yet able to offer cash rewards, winners will receive production of their play as part of next season’s festival, as well as multiple tickets, if desired. The entries should play in one scene, have minimal scenic requirements, not exceed 10 to 12 pages in length and have two to six characters.
Exploring the Jewish legacy
Just ahead lies an ambitious undertaking — the ATP main stage production of Joshua Harmon’s “Bad Jews,” cited by the New York Times as the best comedy of 2014 and directed by Burt Tepfer. As Harmon explains it, the term refers to, “… how someone who is Jewish relates to their cultural and religious heritage. A ‘good Jew’ embraces the rituals, language and religious traditions of Judaism, whereas a ‘bad Jew’ shies away from them.”
Tepfer explains, “The show centers around how and how much young adults identify with the cultural and religious heritage they have inherited. Some align closely with their family’s observances and history, while others wish to shed their Jewishness and move fully into America’s melting pot.”
Joshua Harmon’s play is a unique combination of ill will, belly laughs and the savage hilarity of interfamilial vitriol.
The play’s Los Angeles, Calif. bow coincides with the warmly received New York premiere of Harmon’s latest work, “Significant Other.”
Jordan Riefe’ synopsis: Liam is a secular Jew with a gentile girlfriend named Melody. His cousin Daphna Feygenbaum is an uber-Jew underclassman at Vassar, whose fantasies include Rabbinical studies and a boyfriend in the Israeli army. Coming between them is the issue of an heirloom belonging to their recently deceased grandfather. While that may make this sound like an ethnic comedy, it isn’t. Conflicts of modernity and tradition function within any cultural framework, and with its canny humor and vibrant characterizations, “Bad Jews” offers a radioactive brew of neuroses and glee for audiences of all stripes.
The play has been described as “smashingly venomous” and “blisteringly funny” in turn.
Two Jewish cousins come together after the death of their grandfather and family patriarch, Poppy, who has left a Chai (“Life”) necklace, concealed in his mouth as a Holocaust survivor. There seems to be a distinct difference of opinion as to just who the rightful recipient of this talismanic item should be. One possible solution — why, the most “Jewish” of Poppy’s descendants … but just who might that be, and what, pray tell, are the defining criteria of such “Jewishness.”
“Bad Jews” will be at the Playhouse for six performances, Fridays and Saturdays only, from July 29 through August 13, all at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended. The toll free box office line is 877-666-1855. Tickets are $15 regular admission. Students pay half price on Fridays.
The Playhouse is located on the corner of Brook and Main streets in West Chesterfield. For additional information, visit:
www.atplayhouse.org
Hot Tips of the Week
While lack of space won’t permit all the glorious details, two superb Vermont music festivals are now in gear: Putney’s Yellow Barn Series (http://www.yellowbarn.org/summer-season or 802-387-6637) and Marlboro’s better-than-which-it-does-not-get, “Music at Marlboro” (https://www.marlboromusic.org/concerts/ or 215-569-4690).
The Yellow Barn is a virtual cornucopia of concerts — occurring every one, two or three days throughout early August, with a wide repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary, while Marlboro’s intensively rehearsed world-class performances take place on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, and Friday evenings on August 5 and 12.
An author and composer, columnist Joseph Marcello of Northfield focuses on music and theater. He can be reached at josephmarcello@verizon.net