This Wonderful Life at Barrington Stage Sparkles with Life and Love

Tom Beckett as Ernie the Taxi Driver (Kevin Sprague Photo)

In the film It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey discovers that his life has made a difference to a whole town. In this rewarding and unusual one-man version of the classic story, Pittsfield's Barrington Stage Company has given their little city a sparkling new Christmas tradition that is bound to warm the hearts of its residents for many years to come. It is so good, I am already planning to take some friends to see it again. Yes, it is that kind of show, so far superior to anything you see on the tube that you don't mind turning off the computer, the Blackberry, the iPhone and switching into full focus mode.

What is amazing about this production is how a few talented people took a classic story, and with props, lighting and sound turned it into a sweeping epic of one man's journey through life. This stage adaptation of the 1946 film was written by Steve Murray and conceived by Mark Setlock. All it requires is one indafatigable actor with unlimited energy reserves and a photographic memory to take up some thirty roles during the course of a nonstop 85 minute journey. The show is performed without intermission.

One Actor Fills the Stage With Life

There's no need to recount the familiar story line here, but for the most part it remains faithful to the original screenplay, even though it runs a full hour less than the film. This tightening up of the script is one reason the action on stage never stops, and the audience's attention never wavers. In a one person show, so much depends on the quality of the actor, in this case Tom Beckett. Beckett is probably best remembered for his role as the sound effects man, Mr. Foley, on the AMC series Remember WENN.

Beckett has an impressive Broadway and off-Braodway resume as well, one of many extraordinarily gifted actors who like George Bailey eke out a modest existence, in this case by performing on America's stages. This is his first appearance in the Berkshires, and I hope that we see him again in many other roles in the future. His talent and range are impressive, especially considering that this was his first "one-man" show. He played young and old, male and female, nasty and nice.

George Bailey discovers his past matters

This Wonderful Life was directed by Andrew Volkoff, who also directed last summer's I am My Own Wife and the 2007 hit Fully Committed at Barrington Stage. This show demonstrates that Volkoff is far from content to stay with the same bag of tricks, he has clearly invented many new ones, and each one-man show he does is more multi-dimensional than the previous one. Artistic Director Julianne Boyd sure knows how to pick 'em.

The design team includes Brian Prather (scenic designer), Jeff Davis (lighting designer), Jacob A. Climer (costume designer) and Brad Berridge (sound designer). Renee Lutz is production stage manager.

Desperation on the Bridge

In the first half of the show we see the character of George Bailey as a self-sacrificing good guy, full of optimism and willing to defer his own needs in order to help others. In this day and age, as in 1946, this was a hard thing to do. But then - and now - there were - and are - such people among us, quietly doing the right thing. We often take them for granted. Who among us has not had that dark moment of utter despair, as George Bailey had at that snowy bridge, when all seemed hopeless.

Watching that scene touched off a bit of the jaded cynic in me, making me feel more like the evil Mr. Potter than a human being, but as it played out, those selfish feelings were overwhelmed by a sense of camaraderie with George, and it is such moments that give us catharsis in the dark of a theatre. We see we are not alone in our problems.

The Happy Ending (All photos by Kevin Sprague)

In the tradition of great storytelling, there is a happy ending. Sweet but not saccharine. Actually it is a bitter-sweet moment, one in which tears of happiness and relief merge, with the net effect of an audience leaving the theatre happy, refreshed and glad to be alive.

And that is the miracle of this Barrington Stage Company production. It renews the spirit, gives us hope, and encourages us all to be more selfless and kind, even when we don't get many thanks.

Well, here's a warm thank you to Barrington Stage. This Wonderful Life is the best Christmas present anyone in the Berkshires could ask for!

This Wonderful Life runs through December 20 at Barrington Stage's Stage 2 located at 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield, MA. Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7, Friday at 8, Saturday at 2 and 8 and Sunday at 3. You can call for tickets at 413-236-8888 or online at Barrington Stage Co.org

One note: In welcoming the opening night audience, Julianne Boyd explained that due to state budget cuts a chunk of money they were counting on was sliced away, and that to meet a challenge grant, they still needed to raise an additional $70,000 to replace it by the end of December. It's time for those of us in the Berkshires to step up to the plate. This is a company that puts the magic of theatre into our lives not only in the Summer, but year round.

"Go Free" Disney ticket promotion a big hit

A little promotional ticket pricing helps the high Broadway prices go down easier.

Disney's "Kids Go Free" promotion is working like a charm. With more than a million dollars worth of tickets sold in the first three days, and little more than a week to run, it appears that for every ticket given away to a child, one was sold to an adult. In these recessionary times, Disney proves it knows its marketing.

The tickets went on sale on December 1 and the promotion continues through December 12 for performances of Mary Poppins, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. The tickets are for performances between January 6 and March 13. There are a limited number of tickets allocated to this promotion, and include most weekday and weekend performances. There are a few dates blacked out.

There are other ways to get discounted Disney tickets, though not as well known, but you will have to sacrifice a little of your time in order to access them. But that is the deal - if you are in a hurry, you pay full price.

The Lion King is not just for children.

Other discount strategies

The Broadway ticket brokers and ticket agents have not been immune to the recession, and often end up having bought more seats than they can resell at full price. So a great new strategy is to email or call these brokers and let them know when you want to go and ask if they have any deals.

Sometimes you will get an offer right then (a bird in the hand and all that) and you should be prepared to make a pretty fast decision. Though many will pressure you to act instantly, it is reasonable to tell them that you have to check with the others first. Even with a short grace period, calling them back as soon as you can is a good idea since their ticket inventory is limited and usually the first person with the money takes them regardless of promises made.

Alternately, if you email you can ask them to email you any late breaking deals for the dates you are interested in. Some will, some won't. Since tickets are in a constant state of flux, it is not possible to predict.

Armed with a seating chart and open dates, you can also be a well informed consumer when you do this. My number one rule of thumb is to always ask early on if the prices quoted include all service charges. Then, if some place down the road a surprise fee is added to the conversation, think twice about dealing with that broker.

The Times Square Info Center between 47 and 48 Streets

Should this strategy fail, and I arrive in midtown Manhattan without tickets in hand, I do check for what are called "twofers" at the tourist information operations. These are ticket sized coupons that often offer large discounts direct from the box office. The one pictured is on Broadway near Times Square and easy to find.

My final option is to stand in line at theTKTS booth in Duffy Square where tickets are always sold at 25 to 50% off. I will be writing more about them in the near future, so you might want to subscribe to this blog to keep up with cheap ticket strategies and offers.

The new Half Price TKTS Booth

Buying from the box office, whether at full price or a discount can be a smart strategy too since you do not pay the Ticketmaster surcharges which often add insult to injury. I would rather give those service charges to the independent brokers who got me a real deal.

So now the question is, which Disney show. Here are some capsule descriptions of the three currently running:

The Lion King

The Lion King is at the Minskoff Theatre

I simply adore this show. Disney’s beloved film comes to eye-popping life with Julie Taymor's amazing staging. Winner of six 1998 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Lion King pulses with an award-winning score and innovative choreography, costumes and masks which bring the classic story of the young royal heir Simba and the animals of the African Pride Lands to vivid life.

Lion King Seating Chart

Even with a top price of $110 on weekends, the Lion King is the most difficult Disney show to find discounted tickets for. This one show brings Disney almost a million dollars a week in ticket sales. No mere high school musical can compete with the large cast and orchestra which have made this the longest running Disney show.

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre

An underwater advanture with Ariel the mermaid in this splashy Disney musical. In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. With award-winning music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, The Little Mermaid is a musical favorite for audiences of all ages.

Little Mermaid Seating Chart

There is a fairly steady supply of discount tickets for The Little Mermaid.

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins at the gorgeous New Amsterdam Theatre

The young ones will experience a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious time with everyone's favorite nanny. Based on P.L. Travers' stories and the classic Disney film, Mary Poppins brings to life the story of the Banks family and their magical nanny. Featuring the movie's Oscar-winning songs, this enchanting musical lets you rediscover the power of family and the joyful memories of childhood.

Mary Poppins Seating Chart

Of the three Disney shows, Mary Poppins is the easiest one to find offered at discounted prices.

Finally! BSO offering digital downloads from its archive

The BSO onstage at Symphony Hall, Boston


Last year I made gifts of music to my friends and family via Apple's ITunes. It was affordable and easy. This year I may be sending the Boston Pops Orchestra to my friends who enjoy classical, light and heavy.

It's possible since the Boston Symphony has finally launched its digital download service, though the selection is sparse and somewhat curious. Certainly it is nice to honor bygone eras when Serge Koussecitzky, Erich Leinsdorf and Charlels Munch led this great institution, but I look forward to the day more recent concerts are available. Especially some of the legendary programs under Seiji Ozawa and the current Music Director, James Levine.

But it is a start, and the lateness of the entry at least means state of the art technology. Each recording has been digitally remastered by EMI's Abbey Road Studios using 24-bit state-of-the-art technology.

Keith Lockhart conducts the Christmas Pops

I enjoyed browsing the BSO website for a look at the various MP3 downloads and Classical CD selections which are being offered. There are generous samplings to give you a flavor of what you are buying. A very nice beginning.

Martha Clarke Recreates A Garden of Earthly Delights

The triptych that is the original source of inspiration

Martha Clarke's The Garden of Earthly Delights is now on stage

I have been fascinated with the painting The Garden of Earthly Delights ever since I first encountered it at the Prado Museum in Madrid decades ago. Choreographer Martha Clarke has brought it to life on stage, though I missed its early incarnations at the American Repertory Theatre some 25 years ago.
Picture from the 1983 ART Production

After its initial appearance, it has returned in a full dance production and is now on view at the Minetta Lane Theatre in Manhatttan.

The Crucifixion is suggested, Rex Miller Photo.

Imagine trying to make the images in this stunning triptych come to life. The painter Hieronymus Bosch, or "El Bosco" as the Spaniards call him, certainly had a 21st Century imagination. Spooky film specialists Tim Burton nor Russ Meyer are not even in the same league. But choreographer Clarke take the Bosch vision on with great success, She doesn't try to replicate all the events depicted on the three panels, but uses them as a starting point for the acid-laden artist's version of Paradise, Earthly Existence and Hell. The painting is from the era when true perspective was not yet developed, so to suggest the crowded canvas, much of her action takes place in the air, with phantasmagorical happenings both on earth and in the heavens. The aerial work is stunning.

Simplicity evokes the painting's complexity. Rex Miller Photo.

Clarke worked out he original choreography in the early 80's and showed it as part of the American Repertory Theatre 1983 season. Back then Robert Brustein was artistic director, and he was way ahead of his audiences. It also had a short run at the Minetta Lane Theatre where it was originally slated to run until January 18 but a comment (see below) notes that it has been extended to March 1st. People's memory of it was so indelible that Clarke was continually prompted to undertake the enormous task of restaging it. Fundraising for this project was more difficult than putting the production itself together, the New York Times reported today.

Trees from Martha's back yard decorate the stage. Richard Finkelstein photo.

You can view more of Richard Finkelstein's creativity on his wonderful website. Dance photography is a great creative challenge to get right, and he does it with panache.


At the Minetta Lane Theater, 18 Minetta Lane, Greenwich Village; (212) 307-4100. Through Jan. 18. Running time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

Disney offers free Broadway tickets for children

Mary Poppins on Broadway

It's actually kind of amazing. But Disney has reacted to the economic times with wisdom and what amounts to a huge price cut for its tickets to their three Broadway shows.

Not exactly free, but the next best thing because with each adult ticket you can get one free children’s ticket. It is a limited time offer, and applies to three of its most popular Broadway musicals: “The Lion King,” “Mary Poppins” and “The Little Mermaid.”

The Lion King on Broadway

Now there are a couple of important details. First, the window for buying the tickets is very short. The tickets will go on sale on Monday, December 1 through Dec. 12. During that period, ticket buyers can receive one free child’s admission (18 and under) with each purchase of a full-priced ticket.

The other caveat is that this is just for shows between January 6 and March 13, the slowest months of the Broadway season due to the unpredictability of the weather. There are some dates blocked out, including what is school vacation for some.

The Little Mermaid on Braodway

But should you be able to work around the limitations, you can get one heck of a deal, mom and dad. To claim your tickets, and to find out more about these shows, you just need to visit this special Disney website which has been set up for this promotion.

Broadway's Greed Closes Young Frankenstein

The producers picked a big house and even bigger prices.

I have watched ticket prices for Broadway shows creep up from $1.10 and $2.20 in the late 1950's (for second balcony seats, orchestra was $4.40) to the day a decade ago when they hit $100 for some musicals. I was delighted to hear about Young Frankestein being made into a musical, but when the producers announced top ticket prices of $375 and $400 I knew I would not be going to see that show. Who did they think they were, Cirque du Soleil? The Rolling Stones? The Second Coming of Christ?

I considered the prices they were charging to be confiscatory, and while I understood their desire to reap the unconscionable profits the ticket scalper usually made, they also showed a shameful greed since all the orchestra seats were out of reach, and even the "dress circle" (translation: first balcony) seats were $120.

As if this piggy pricing was not enough, there was also their hubris regarding group sales. They figured they had a show that would reap plenty, so they limited group sales to 50 at a pop on the weekends, and the ticket allocations were very stingy. But they also killed the goose that lays golden eggs for Broadway, and often supports so-so shows just long enough to build the word of mouth.

Cause of death? Miscalculating public reaction to $400 tickets.

Not only did I pass, but they also went on my silent list of productions to avoid, even if they were half price, still a King's ransom for most of us. In the end, all theatre-goers vote with their wallets.

Recently Bob Sillerman, Mel Brook's producing partner publicly repented these pricing strategies. But it is too late, it has spread to other shows as well.

Nevertheless, when this Broadway monster announced it is closing January 4, after 30 previews and 484 performances, I felt a bit of poetic justice had been served.

A spectacular show, but grossly overpriced.

Now I know how difficult it is to raise money for Broadway shows, and how important recoupment is. Young Frankenstein has supposedly recouped its investment. But the audiences, at least those who are residents of the city and surrounding areas are not exactly having an easy time of it these days. Ignoring the impact these pricing decisions have on traditional audiences is important, for by making prices not just high, but unreasonable to boot, is killing Broadway.

More Casualties to Come

Closing dates have been announced with glum regularity lately: Older shows, such as "Hairspray, "Monty Python's Spamalot" and "Spring Awakening" are finishing their runs. New shows, such as "13" have already departed, as well as the critically maligned and artistically mangled "American Buffalo." David Mamet, what were you thinking with that cast of second-tier TV and movie stars. I could understand John Leguizamo, he can act, but Cedric the Entertainer? Haley Joel Osment?

Still, some shows thrive

And yet, the news isn't all grim. Limited-engagement fall revivals of "Speed-the-Plow,""The Seagull,""All My Sons" and possibly "Equus" are at or near recoupment of their $2 million-plus production costs. And "Billy Elliot" has turned into the first big musical smash of 2008, getting great notices and doing hefty business.

Best of all, three of them are plays, not musicals. Imagine that. Times are changing.

Julian Kuerti's BSO rescue has unintended consequenses

The father and son duo of Julian and Anton Kuerti in action

Unintended consequences. When Gennady Rozhdestvensky decided to walk out on his commitment to conduct last weekend's BSO concerts, Julian Kuerti stepped in and rescued the day.

But In order to do this, Kuerti then had to bow out of his appearance this week with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. He was scheduled to appear there with his dad, renowned Canadian pianist Anton Kuerti.

Wednesday's concert, entitled Kuerti: Father and Son, was meant to be a two-generation classical music collaboration. But Kuerti, assistant conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, had to step in there instead.

Earlier this summer, Kuerti also filled in for an ailing James Levine as conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for early July performances in the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood. Kuerti is the BSO's Assistant Conductor.