Cat On a Hot Tin Roof
Berkshire Theater Company
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
June 22-July 16
If I were being truly honest, I would tell you that I only traveled to Stockbridge to see “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” because Michael Raymond James was playing Brick. However, by the first intermission I was completely blown away by the sheer talent appearing on stage. From Scene One right on through to the final curtain, I laughed, cried and even got scared a few times by what was being presented on stage. The set was ideal, the actors all played and fit their parts perfectly and even the lighting was supreme. For someone who went only because one of my favorite actors was playing a lead role, I was definitely pleasantly surprised!
The show began precisely at 7 p.m. with a fantastic portrayal of Margaret (Rebecca Brooksher) and Brick (Michael Raymond James), arguing in their bedroom. Rebecca kept the audience laughing throughout the entire first scene, and she was positively delightful in her role as Brick’s doting wife. On quite the opposite end of the spectrum, I found the character of Brick quite distasteful, and even found myself wondering how Michael could be playing such an uncouth character and making me hate him so much. Both of these actors in particular were so into their roles that they really brought their characters to life, and made me forget all together that they were actors playing parts at all!
Kudos to director David Auburn, whose carefully selected cast really brought the words of the legendary Tennessee Williams to life. From Jenn Harris’ extremely comical rendition of Mae to Jim Beaver’s epic delivery of Big Daddy, I was hooked for the full two and a half hours that the play ran. Even David Adkins' version of Reverend Tooker had me laughing so hard I was brought to tears by his minimal yet hysterical lines. Several times over, I found myself quite petrified watching both Michael Raymond James (Brick) and Jim Beaver (Big Daddy) screaming at Linda Gehringer (Big Mama) and Rebecca Brookshire (Big Mama), and each other, and letting the anger of their characters fly on stage.
The only critique I can muster for this production is that it only runs for a little over three weeks, because I think it should run longer so more people can have the privilege of seeing this amazing rendition of a true Tennessee Williams classic. It is one I would enjoy seeing several times over if I had such an opportunity, because it was genuinely worth every cent of the $62 ticket. And, as if the phenomenal show was not enough, Michael Raymond James himself even came out at the end of the show to meet me with a giant hug and a huge smile.
One thing is for sure; I will definitely be attending more of the Berkshire Theater Company’s productions in the future! A job well done!
