Review: ‘Stone Witch’ in Stockbridge, ‘Romance Novels …’ in WiIliamstown

Reviewing a pair of world premieres in the Berkshires

Judd Hirsch in "The Stone Witch at Berkshore Theatre Group. (BTG publicity photo by Emma Rothenberg-Ware.)

Judd Hirsch in “The Stone Witch” at Berkshire Theatre Group. (BTG publicity photo by Emma Rothenberg-Ware.)

By Steve Barnes

Two new 90-minute, one-act plays with contemporary settings and starring famous TV and film actors received world premieres on Saturday in the Berkshires: Shem Bitterman’s “The Stone Witch,” with Judd Hirsch (“Taxi,” “Ordinary People,” the new “Independence Day: Resurgence”) at Berkshire Theatre Group in Stockbridge, and Boo Killbrew’s “Romance Novels for Dummies” with Justin Long (more than 60 movies, the Mac-vs.-PC commercials) at Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown. Though vastly different, and with only one common theme, the value of a story having happy ending, when considered together they illustrate informative aspects of the process of developing new work.

Of the two, “The Stone Witch” is both more ambitious and more flawed.

See the full review here.

 

Mary Wiseman and Justin Long in "Romance Novels for Dummies" at Williamstown Theatre Festival. (WTF publicity photo by T. Charles Erickson.)

Mary Wiseman and Justin Long in “Romance Novels for Dummies” at Williamstown Theatre Festival. (WTF publicity photo by T. Charles Erickson.)

 

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*****

Theater review
“The Stone Witch”

When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Fitzpatrick Main Stage at Berkshire Theatre Group, 83 East Main St., Stockbridge, Mass.
Running time: 95 minutes, no intermission
Continues: 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; through Aug. 20.
Tickets: $62
Info: 413-997-4444 or www.berkshiretheatregroup.org

“Romance Novels for Dummies”
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Main Stage, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Main Street, Williamstown, Mass.
Length: 90 minutes, no intermission
Continues: 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 3:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday (7/24-30), 2 p.m. July 31.
Tickets: $40 to $68
Info: 413-597-3400 or http://wtfestival.org

Steve Barnes