Berkshire-area plays make for interesting companions

There are a couple of plays being offered in the Berkshires that make interesting companions. “Cymbeline” at Shakespeare & Company shows a master in his final years, reflecting on his body of work. At Barrington Stage Company, with “Speech & Debate” there is an opportunity to appreciate the start of what promises to be an important career.

‘Cymbeline’

The production of “Cymbeline” at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Mass. might be one of the company’s outstanding achievements over its 39-year old history. That’s because it takes a play that has been all but discarded by the scholars and the public who consider it too unwieldly. Shakespeare & Company is giving it a smart production that solves most of the problems in what is considered one of Shakespeare’s true ‘problem plays.”

I don’t want to mislead. This production of “Cymbeline” will do little to bring the work into the mainstream. The problems of the text still exist and the untidiness of the plot still will perplex audiences in a production any less perfect than this one.

That alone makes this production truly worth seeing. There is a richness in the work that a superb cast elaborates upon. The direction is so coherent, the play almost seems, well - logical. It might be the smoke and mirrors of great acting, brilliant directing and superb technical support, but this is a memorable production.

If you attend the play knowing “Cymbeline” was written by William Shakespeare, and little about its history, you might suspect it was an early play. That’s because it includes many threads that speak to themes more fully developed in other plays.

“Cymbeline” has moments right out of “Romeo and Juliet;” the compassion to “Othello” is remarkable; and King Cymbeline resembles “King Lear.” When the heroine Imogen dons male clothing and finds comfort in the woods, you think of number of his plays where the forest and the people in it nurture and renew the spirit of the individual.

However, when you discover the play is one of Shakespeare’s final works that is not a shock. There is a richness of language and spirit in the play that indicates this is the work of a mature writer. Too, the vision within the work is one of reconciliation and forgiveness that indicates the weary wisdom of an older man. The underlying spirit of ruefulness provides an undercurrent of reflection in the presentation making this clearly a play written by a person who has lived life.

“Cymbeline” is not only a fascinating exploration into the career and mind of Shakespeare it is excellent entertainment.

“Cymbeline” continues at Shakespeare& Company in Lenox, Mass. in rolling rep through August 6. For schedule and ticket information call 413-637-3353 or go to Shakespeare.org

‘Speech & Debate’

In Lenox, Mass. you can experience the work of a historically great playwright. In Pittsfield, Mass. you can discover the work of a young playwright who appears destined to become an important voice in American theater.

Barrington Stage Company is presenting “Speech & Debate,” a play by Stephen Karam that was first produced in 2007. It was the first offering by the Roundabout Theater Company in their New York City space devoted to promising new writers. That promise was rewarded. In 2016 Karam’s play, “The Humans” won the Tony Award for Best New Play and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. (As an aside “The Humans” plays at Proctors Theatre March 6-11, 2018.)

“Speech & Debate” is more than a look at an early play of a potentially major playwright. It is good theater that is both entertaining and thoughtful. It deals with familiar subjects in a manner that makes them fresh and insightful.

Three misfit high school kids bond in a debate club called Speech & Debate. One is Diwata, a flamboyant would be actress with an obsession for the character Mary Warren in Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible.” Howie is an openly gay student and the third, Solomon, is a nerdy wanna be investigative reporter.

Solomon is researching an expose on a male drama teacher who is soliciting students on a gay chat line for the school newspaper. Howie is one of the young men approached by the teacher, but since he is 18, it is not an illegal act. Diwata becomes involved because the drama teacher feels she is without talent and refuses to cast her in school plays.

If you have the feeling you’ve seen this before or know the outcome of the story you are mistaken. The resolution is not a result of vigilante journalism or from vengeful behavior. Resolution comes from examining the problem from all sides and weighing the choices.

Thanks to a phenomenal performance by Betsy Hogg as Diwata and strong work by Austin Davidson and Ben Getz, “Speech & Debate” is 100-minutes of thoughtful fun. It continues at Barrington Stage Company through July 29.

For tickets and schedule information call 413-236-8888 or go to barringtonstageco.org.