7 shows now running at American Players Theatre

Aaron R. Conklin, Madison Magazine

In some ways, it’s been a typical summer at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, with plenty of picnic-worthy sunny days and evenings and a few rained out shows. Onstage, it’s been anything but: Instead of sticking to familiar productions, this season's play selection packs the schedule with powerful, diamond-in-the-rough gems.

Take a look at these seven shows, now running at the Hill and Touchstone Theatres.

"Picnic"

Runs through Sept. 13

In playwright William Inge’s "Picnic", the confident ne’er-do-well Hal (Rasell Holt) upends the lives of a pair of sisters and the neighbors in a Kansas town.

Newcomers Alina Taber and Kelly Simmons wow as the sisters Madge and Millie, respectively. Madge secretly hates being known as the “pretty” one and Millie, who’s destined for college, hates living in the shadow of her sister’s charms. The desperation most of these characters feel is aching and palpable, but none so much as Rosemary Sydney (Colleen Madden), a schoolteacher who finally gives voice to the terrified discontent she’s been fighting off for years.

APT Artistic Director Brenda Devita, who directs here, has always been drawn to stories about people struggling to escape their dead-end situations. That affinity buoys the beauty in this production, which is the underdog hit of the season.

"The Barber and The Unnamed Prince"

Runs through Sept. 25

Kofi (David Alan Anderson) must weigh a difficult choice: Should he hang onto his barbershop, the only Black-owned business remaining in the neighborhood, in hopes of riding the wave of advancing gentrification to something better? Or escape the growing protests and property destruction by selling and recouping the money he needs to give his teenaged son, Prince (Jonathan Gardner), and his half-brother Sweep (Nathan Barlow, who brings a ton of easy comedic wit and charm) a better life? As characters drift in and out of the barbershop, clever banter, harsh history lessons and joyful, spontaneous dancing fill the Touchstone space near to bursting.

The ending — which I won't spoil here — is one the audience can anticipate, but that doesn't lessen its gut-punching impact in the slightest. Lawrence’s work is exactly what theater should be — thought-provoking, touching, comedic and completely unforgettable.c

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