MARK AUERBACH
Freud’s Last Session: Sigmund Freud vs C.S. Lewis
Mark St. Germain’s critically acclaimed and long-running Off-Broadway hit, “Freud’s Last Session” opens the TheaterWorks winter season in Hartford (January 17-February 23). Maxwell Williams directs the drama about two intellectual greats, legendary psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud and young academic rising star C. S. Lewis, who meet at Freud’s study a couple of weeks before Freud’s death. Lewis expects to be called on the carpet for satirizing Freud in a book. On the eve of England’s entry into World War II, the two brilliant men have a battle of the minds over God, love, sex, music and the meaning of life. Not just a powerful debate, this is a profound and deeply touching play (laced with humor and insight) about two men who boldly addressed the greatest questions of all time.
Playwright Mark St. Germain, closely affiliated with Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, has a theatre named for him there. “Freud’s Last Session” had its premiere in Pittsfield in 2009. He’s developed numerous plays for Off-Broadway, including “Dr. Ruth: All The Way”, the story of television sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer (seen at TheaterWorks last summer), and “Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah” (seen at Barrington Stage last summer). He’s written for “The Cosby Show”, “As The World Turns” and more.
Kenneth Tigar plays Sigmund Freud in “Freud’s Last Session” at TheaterWorks in Hartford.
Kenneth Tigar, a Massachusetts-based actor often featured at The Chester Theatre Company, plays Dr. Freud, a role he recently played in New York. He may be familiar from his appearance on “House of Cards”. Jonathan Crombie, who plays C.S. Lewis, came from his native Toronto to New York to star as the “Man in The Chair” in the Broadway musical “The Drowsy Chaperone” in New York and on tour.
For tickets: 860-527-7838 or http://theaterworkshartford.org
Educating Rita: “Pygmalion 1980s Style”
Willy (“Blood Brothers”) Russell’s hilarious, yet heartfelt play “Educating Rita,” an award-winning 1980 London hit commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, returns stateside for a run at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater (January 9-February 16). Rand Foerster stages the two character comedy about a disillusioned college professor, Frank, (John Little), who mentors an inquisitive Liverpool hairdresser (Danielle Connor). The friendship between the unlikely pair gives Frank a renewed sense of self and Rita the knowledge and skills she so craves.
“Educating Rita” was a major London hit, as staged by Mike Ockrent, who later became highly regarded in America for his stagings of “Me and My Girl”, “Crazy For You”, and “Big”, before dying young from leukemia. The play was adapted into a hit film with Michael Caine and Julie Walters, who’d originated the title role in London.
For tickets: 413-747-7797 or http://www.majestictheater.com/
Jonathan Crombie plays C.S. Lewis in “Freud’s Last Session” at TheaterWorks in Hartford.
Of Note
***Jerry Bilik has been named interim Executive Director of Shakespeare & Company, where he will lend his expertise to Artistic Director Tony Simotes, Managing Director Nicholas J. Puma, Jr., the Company, staff and artists, as well as the Board of Directors. A long-time supporter, friend and current Board member of the Company, Bilik has an outstanding and distinguished 40+ year career in performance producing, management and directing. His career includes positions with several notable groups such as Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice. Bilik lives in Lenox and Sarasota, FL.
***Together In Song, Public TV station WGBY’s vocal music singing competition, has picked over three dozen regional amateur choral groups to compete in its 4th season. The series launches on March 15, and the finalists will perform live on air on April 28. Westfield High School’s choir will be one of the competitors. For a list of participants: http://togetherinsong.wgby.org/season-4-participants/
Danielle Connor is a coarse Liverpool hairdresser in “Educating Rita” at the Majestic.
***Sing A Long Grease comes to CityStage in Springfield (January 17-18). You can be good boy/bad boy greaser Danny Zuko (a la John Travolta), good girl Sandy (a la Olivia Newton-John), or any of the other charactets in this blockbuster movie adaptation of the Broadway hit. Maybe you’re more the Rizzo (Stockard Channing) type, or a Frenchy (Didi Conn), or a Teen Angel. You decide. Bring your 50s look and your sing-along voice. For tickets: 413-788-7033. or http://citystage.symphonyhall.com/pages/SingAlongGrease.html
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
