Some Enchanted Evening at Barrington Stage Company

Saturday night, I was at the Barrington Stage Company Fifteenth Year Anniversary Gala; for me, a lifelong fan of musical theater, it was an extraordinary evening.

The festivities began with a performance of the current Mainstage production, the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. Carousel is not my favorite musical (I’m not a big fan of the plot) but this production is exquisite. Julianne Boyd, the founder and artistic director of Barrington Stage, directed this Carousel--she cast extraordinary singers who perform the wonderful score beautifully, and the dancers and the choreography are equally impressive. For anyone who appreciates traditional musical theater, this is a must-see. The show is performed to the music of two pianos; musical director Darren Cohen and assistant musical director Adam Laird did a terrific job of playing the lilting, haunting score.

After the performance, hundreds of people streamed out of the theater on Pittsfield’s Union Street and around the corner to St. Joseph’s High School on Maplewood for dinner. The gym/auditorium space was set with lovely tables, some under picnic umbrellas, with special lighting and a slide show of Barrington Stage productions on a gauzy curtain dividing the room. After some time for cocktails, dinner was served, and it was delicious picnic food: potato salad, biscuits, fried chicken.

Once dinner was over, it was time for the thank-yous and a skit. BSC producing director Richard Parison acted as master of ceremonies; board president Mary Ann Quinson made her remarks, and Julianne Boyd said a few words as well. And then, very appropriately for a company known for musicals, it was time for more music.

Performers from Barrington Stage productions of years past took the stage, beginning with Peter Samuel, who played Emile De Becque in South Pacific in 2002, singing "Some Enchanted Evening." Next, Alison Bevan did "Ladies Who Lunch" from Company (2000) and Cheryl Stern sang "I’m Breaking Down" from Falsettos (2002). I saw all these productions and it was great to hear these numbers once again.

Bill Finn, the Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist, sang one of his songs, a piece from an unproduced musical, in his own very unique style. It was so much fun to hear Bill Finn perform, and his song was wry and witty (of course). Next, Kelli Rabke sang "Look What Happened to Mabel" from Mack and Mabel (1999). All terrific, all enjoyable.

And then Richard Parison introduced Marin Mazzie, who is playing Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, the last Mainstage production in the 2009 BSC season. Marin Mazzie, the three-time Tony Award nominee, sang "Losing My Mind" from Follies. It was spectacular. One of the biggest stars of Broadway was singing one of my favorite Sondheim songs right in St. Joseph’s high school in downtown Pittsfield. Amazing. I could hardly breathe.

And then the last performer of the evening was introduced. Debby Boone appeared in the musical The Human Comedy in 2006, and she traveled to the Berkshires to be part of the gala. She spoke about her summer here as being a high point, and  performed "Send in the Clowns" (from A Little Night Music, of course) and "You Light Up My Life."

What an amazing evening: I was completely speechless, which is unusual—a combination of awe and the wine, I suppose. Make no mistake, Julianne Boyd and Barrington Stage produce terrific theater and are making a big, big difference in Pittsfield. It was quite a night. (JUNE 2009)

 

Photos by Kevin Sprague/courtesy Barrington Stage Company

Top, Sara Jean Ford, left, as Carrie Pipperidge, and Patricia Noonan as Julie Jordan. Bottom, Todd Buonopane, left, as Enoch Snow, and Christopher Innvar as Jigger Craigin.