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American Players Theatre
5950 Golf Course Road
P.O. Box 819
Spring Green, WI 53588
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Box Office: 608-588-2361
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American Players Theatre 2018
Posted July 20, 2018
By the Cordells, BerkshireFineArts.com | July 20, 2018
The primary reason for the American Theatre Critics Association to hold its 2018 conference in southern Wisconsin was to attend performances by American Players Theatre (APT), located in rural Spring Green. See our write-up of the company, its venues, and the locale in the separate review of “Getting to Know the American Players Theatre.”
To economize, note that all of the plays critiqued below can be recommended, as APT’s productions meet standards expected by serious Bay Area theater goers. Emphasizing the company’s philosophy that words reign supreme, staging may be appropriately spare in some productions. Outdoor performances (all below except Blood Knot) are given without mics, but the natural acoustics fully envelop the 1,100 seat audience with full resonance. Acting of lead roles is consistently strong, including those in all of the photos in this article. Most supporting characterizations are equally fine.
Born Yesterday
For those who have seen the Judy Holiday and Brodrick Crawford movie version of Garson Kanin’s comedy Born Yesterday, it may be hard to imagine different realizations of the main characters. APT’s version conforms, offering a squeaky, ditsy Billie and a rough, gruff Brock.