In 1835, after sailing into Newport and then continuing his journey through the United States, famed French historian and apparent theater geek Alexis de Tocqueville wrote about the cultural and political revolution that was still taking place in this country. In his Democracy in America, he argued that as a society transitions from aristocracy to democracy, the theatrical arts are the first literary space to reflect the shifts and they “remain conspicuous there.”
Although Tocqueville did not say so in his text, it appears as if the inverse of his observations is also true – that as our democracy shows signs of regressing back to aristocracy, as it seems to be under the Trump administration, the theatrical arts remain on watch. Through the creative reframing of classic works and the staging of contemporary plays that reflect the state of the many through the lens of a fictionalized few, our local theaters are exploring, exposing, and questioning the status quo.
And for those of us in need of escape from all the contentious sound and fury that surrounds us, there’s plenty of that as well in the fall season offerings by our professional playhouses.
TRINITY REP
201 Washington St, Providence. trinityrep.com.
“The shows we’ve chosen are as smart as they are moving,” says incoming Artistic Director Meredith McDonough. “They center on people owning the power of their voices and opening themselves up to possibility.”
The Getaway Driver
Inspired by a remarkable true story, Deborah Salem Smith and Charlie Thurston’s gripping new drama is a story of redemption. It follows two women bound by a life-altering moment that ends in tragedy. Unfolding like a true crime thriller, this play traces the long shadow of a single decision. World premiere. Runs Sept. 3 – Oct. 4.
A Christmas Carol
Set in mid-19th century London, this classic play is a morality tale about Ebenezer Scrooge’s one-night transformation from malevolent miser to charitable cherub after revisiting the lost opportunities of Christmas past, witnessing the wasted potential of Christmas present, and foreseeing the impending horrors of Christmas yet to come. This is the 50th anniversary production of Trinity Rep’s tradition of reimagining Charles Dickens’s story anew each year. Runs Nov. 5 – Dec. 31.
THE WILBURY THEATRE GROUP
WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley St, Providence. thewilburygroup.org.
“When the country feels like it’s coming apart,” notes Artistic Director Josh Short, “I don’t find myself wanting to produce safer work. I want Wilbury to produce work that has something to say about who we are and what we’re losing. I’d like it to be a statement of values and vision.”
Same Difference
Set against the backdrop of AIDS and drug violence, this is a funny, fierce, and deeply human play by local playwright Don Mays. It is about two men the world treats as disposable and the woman who can see exactly who they are. World premiere. Runs Sept. 24 – Oct. 11.
Seagulls
Beth Hyland’s indie rock musical adaptation of Chekhov’s heartbreaking 1896 play is reimagined with four college musicians and a lot of songs played live by the actors. It is about ambition, desire, and the particular damage done to young women who want things in a world not built to protect them. New England premiere. Runs Nov. 19 – Dec. 13.
BURBAGE THEATRE
59 Blackstone Ave, Pawtucket. burbagetheatre.org.
“The upcoming season,” says Artistic Director Jeff Church, “showcases Burbage’s trademark irreverence and a slate of plays that range from the classically comedic to the immediately exigent – all plays that examine the past as a reflection of our present and that beg us to consider how our present actively shapes our future.”
Much Ado About Nothing
William Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy features love, wit, and second chances. Old rivalries, lingering misunderstandings, and carefully guarded reputations shape the lives of those caught between the past and the future. Runs Sept. 17 – Oct. 11.
Cheap
Inspired by Molière’s classic comedy The Miser, Margaret Melozzi’s play follows a family trapped in the obsessive orbit of a matriarch. As greed, deception, and competing desires collide, children scheme for independence, lovers fight for their futures, and every relationship is tested by the cost of putting money above people. In partnership with WomensWork Theatre Collaborative. World premiere. Runs Nov. 19 – Dec. 6.
GAMM THEATRE
1245 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick. gammtheatre.org.
“Our plays certainly contain some up-to-the-minute politically charged themes,” says Artistic Director Tony Estrella. “But the messy gravitational force of human nature is what makes them sing.”
The Smuggler
This gripping one-man play by Ronan Noone, told completely in rhymed verse, follows an Irish immigrant working in Massachusetts. When he loses his job, he gets pulled into the dark world of smuggling to make ends meet. By turns hilarious, gripping, and shocking, the play explores the moral decay of an everyday man and the modern immigration crisis. Runs Sept. 17 – Oct. 11.
A View From The Bridge
On the Brooklyn waterfront, longshoreman Eddie Carbone lives by a strict code of loyalty, family, and respect. But when two undocumented cousins arrive from Sicily seeking work, Eddie’s tightly controlled world begins to unravel. In one of the most powerful tragedies of the American stage, playwright Arthur Miller lays bare the destructive force of jealousy and pride. Runs Nov. 5 – 29.
TEATRO ECAS
679 Valley St, Providence. teatroecas.org.
According to Artistic Director Francis Parra, “Each production invites audiences to laugh, reflect, and see themselves in stories of love, freedom, resilience, relationships, and community. This season represents what Teatro ECAS does best: bringing generations together through powerful Spanish language [with English supertitles] theater.”
La Dama Boba (The Foolish Lady)
Finea, dismissed by those around her as foolish, experiences an unexpected awakening as love sharpens her wit and gives her the confidence to shape her own future. Full of humor and romantic intrigue, this play by Lope de Vega (adaptation by Jorge Fullana) challenges assumptions about a woman’s right to determine her destiny. Runs Oct. 8 – 17.
PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
220 Weybosset St, Providence. ppacri.org.
“Stories that will light up your life” is the slogan that drives the upcoming Broadway touring series at PPAC. Adds President and CEO Alan J. Chille, the season “will engage, inspire, and uplift audiences.”
Operation Mincemeat
It’s 1943. The Allies are on the ropes, and England is about to gamble our futures on a stolen corpse. Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, it’s the fast-paced, hilarious stranger-than-fiction story of the secret mission that won WWII. National tour launch. Runs Sept. 20 – 26.
The Bodyguard
Based on the 1992 film, a former Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard is hired to protect a superstar from an unknown stalker. Both expect to be in charge of their situation, but what they don’t expect is to fall in love. Runs Oct. 23 – 25.
The Great Gatsby
Based on the classic American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Tony Award-winning musical is an unforgettable journey of love, wealth, and tragedy that brings the Roaring Twenties to life on stage. Runs Nov. 3 – 8. •
Bob Abelman is an award-winning theater critic who also writes for The Boston Globe. Connect with him on Facebook.