Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Players third show of their 111th season is “The Country House” by Donald Margulies. There is a family gathering at the Patterson home in the Berkshires during the Williamstown summer theatre season. Matriarch Anna, who is a star of stage and screen, invites her protege, Michael, a younger man who is now a famous TV star, to stay at her home. She also has family members visit, including Walter, her son in law who is a famous teen picture movie director and his new girlfriend Nell whom had a flirtation with Anna’s son, Elliot 11 years earlier. And they are still mourning Anna’s daughter, Kathy, who was married to Walter and passed away a year ago from cancer at the age of 41. Their daughter, Susie, a senior at Yale, clad in black for the first act, is still mourning her mother. This group of people wrestle with fame, their art and each other. However, all good intentions go awry during their weekend sojourn when arguments break out and secrets are spilled. These happenings threaten the very fabric of the family with memories of the past mingling with new love as well as discarded dreams. Director Alan Hawkridge elicits strong performances from his six talented cast members. They move the audience to laughter and tears with familiar struggles all families face. “Did mother spend more time doting on you or your sibling?” and “ Were you talented enough to make it in show business?” are a couple of the questions asked in this well written play. The show starts off like a comedy about eccentric family members but turns into a dramatic, gut wrenching finale where even the hardest heart in the audience dissolves into tears.

Read more “THE COUNTRY HOUSE (The Players, Barker Playhouse)”