MARK AUERBACH
PITTSFIELD – Barrington Stage is presenting His Girl Friday, John Guare’s remake of the classic Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur comedy The Front Page, a zany, slick 1928 comedy set in a Chicago press room. You may know The Front Page from its popular 1940 film adaptation, His Girl Friday, which starred Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. Guare, author of the acclaimed The House of Blue Leaves and Six Degrees of Separation, and librettist with Mel Shapiro of Two Gentlemen of Verona (the musical that beat Sondheim’s Follies for the “Best Musical” Tony) also wrote the screenplay for Louis Malle’s Atlantic City. He’s adept with stageplay and screenplay.
As a part-time reporter, it’s interesting to me to see how Hecht and MacArthur, both one-time Chicago reporters, fashioned a fast-paced hot-off-the-presses comedy from a press room, when most press rooms today, are ghost towns compared to back then. (In fact, The Westfield News press room is now a cafe, The Press Room, since newspapers are composed on computers, and reporters file their stories from the field electronically).
It’s 1939, and a group of reporters from several publications are in the Criminal Court Press Room in Chicago, covering an execution in hopes of getting the story in first. Among them is media tycoon Walter Burns (Christopher Innvar), whose star reporter and ex-wife, Hildy Johnson (Jane Pfitsch) is about to leave town to marry her new beau (Mark H. Dold). When Hildy stops by the press room to see her reporter colleagues, Walter tries to win her back, and as major headline story about corruption and greed unravels before their eyes.
Guare’s quip-filled, zippy script, which merges the best of the play and the movie, moves fast forward at high velocity, beautifully directed by Julianne Boyd with some choreography provided by Ryan Winkles. An ensemble of twenty actors, some playing multiple roles, merge together to give a first class ensemble performance. David M. Barber’s press room set (with a really cool roll-top desk), Sara Jean Tosetti’s lovely period costumes, Scott Pinkney’s outstanding lighting design, and Brad Berridge’s superb sound design bring out the best in Boyd’s staging and the fine performances. The timing is so tight, that it’s breathtaking to watch.
When Christopher Innvar, Mark H. Dold, and Jane Pfitsch act together, they’re perfectly synchronized, and their performances are most satisfying. Among the other performances I enjoyed were Peggy Pharr Wilson as Hildy’s future mother in law, a very broad and funny character; Rocco Sisto as a corrupt sherriff, and Jonathan Spivey and Ethan Dubin both playing dual roles.
Technology has changed, but the news business is still full of reporters pushing to get the story in and on the stands (or web) first. His Girl Friday is testimony to those journalists of yesteryear, and a completely fun evening in the theatre.
Barrington Stage just celebrated its 10th anniversary of performing in downtown Pittsfield. For a week night, the area around Barrington Stage was a buzz with foot traffic, busy restaurants, and the dazzling new Hotel on North. Ms. Boyd and her Barrington Stage team, alongside Kate Maguire and the Berkshire Theatre Group have transformed a decaying city center from urban blight to vibrancy. That’s the power of the arts in a community.
Barrington Stage Company presents His Girl Friday, Adapted by John Guare from The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur and the Columbia Pictures film. . Directed by Julianne Boyd. Scenic design by David M. Barber. Costume design by Sara Jean Tosetti. Lighting design by Scott Pinkney. Sound design by Brad Berridge. . Through August 30.. Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA. 413-236-8888 or www.barringtonstageco.org
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.
