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Pittsfield, Mass.
If the Broadway original of “On the Town” was anything like the production now on stage at Barrington Stage Company, then it’s no wonder the baby boom coincided with the hit’s initial run (1944 to 1946).
Sassy, sexy, energetic and fun — it’s a hell of a musical.
The story is simple enough: three sailors — Ozzie, Chip and Gabey — set out on a 24-hour shore leave in 1944’s New York City looking for adventure — and dames. The stage set is simple, too, with minimal signs and scrims, and occasional tables and seats to suggest apartments, restaurants, a taxi, streets and museums.
The rest of it, though, only seems simple. The top-notch 10-piece orchestra under the direction of Darren R. Cohen nailed Leonard Bernstein’s energetic and upbeat score. Joshua Bergasse’s choreography filled the stage with joyous movement and vitality, creating stage pictures that winked at Jerome Robbins while taking on a life of its own (the musical was based on Robbins’ ballet “Fancy Free,” after all). Continue reading →
