BTF’s Unicorn mines gold with 'Floyd'

By Ralph HammannPrint Story | Email Story
Reporters ’scoop the poop’ in “Floyd Collins.” From left to right are Jonathan Kay, Neal Mortimer and Sal Delmonte. (Photo by Kevin Sprague)
“Floyd Collins,” music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, book by Tina Landau, additional lyrics by Tina Landau, directed by Jared Coseglia. Berkshire Theatre Festival, The Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge, through July 3. STOCKBRIDGE — Of the 1996 Playwrights Horizon production, New York magazine critic John Simon wrote that “Floyd Collins” was “the original and daring musical of our day, concerned with saying something in words and music, not merely bringing in da noise or paying the rent.” Referring to overrated shows like “Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in “Da Funk” and “Rent,” Simon was, as usual, right. Indeed, the current dean of American theater critics was rather prophetic regarding the decade that closed without much ado in the area of musicals about ideas. Seeing “Floyd Collins” today in the full-blooded production being given it in the Berkshire Theatre Festival’s Unicorn Theatre, one is struck with its timelessness and relevance to the ever-receding American dream. The often dissonant musical is based on the true story of Floyd Collins, a 38-year-old spelunker who crawled into a sinkhole that he hoped would lead to a majestic passage that would link all of the caves in his part of rural Kentucky. Collins reasoned that such a discovery would lead to fame and financial success through the tourist attraction that would follow. Little did he know that mere days after he became trapped over 125 feet underground in the winter of 1925, he would become the attraction as between 10,000 to 30,000 people journeyed to the site of his entrapment. While Collins, whose foot was caught in a small cave-in, was periodically visited by a cub reporter, Skeets Miller, a veritable carnival assembled aboveground for 18 days. The story was the basis for Billy Wilder’s acerbic film, “The Big Carnival,” which starred Kirk Douglas as the reporter who brought fame to himself and Collins. The film, told from the point-of-view of the reporter, was a brilliant satire on greed, the media and unreflective consumerism. Jettisoning that perspective, Adam Guettel and Tina Landau tell the story from that of the trapped Collins. It becomes an alternately rousing and rueful consideration of the literal depths to which a man will crawl to grasp his moment of fame and piece of the American dream. It is a paean to the durability of the spirit of the dispossessed, the people who envision more than their workaday lives provide. What first seizes your imagination at the BTF is Mimi Lien’s impressionistically impressive set depicting the lean subterranean passageway that will entrap Collins. Abetted by Matthew E. Adelson’s sly lighting, Lien invites our participation in Collins’ condition on a nearly visceral level. The music, sound design and acting complete the effect. From the outset, as Collins sings three songs accompanied by musical director Linda Dowdell’s versatile keyboard and director Jared Coseglia’s marvelous echo effects and sound design, we are swiftly transported to the underground world that Collins loved. We share in his joy of inhabiting a place never trespassed on by another human. And in Dalane Mason’s fully committed performance as Collins, we feel the rapture of a man on the verge of self-realization. In that trio of songs, Mason exultantly sings to and with himself and communicates with an immediacy and simplicity that are disarming. When, finally, Collins becomes wedged in the passage so that even his arms are deprived of movement, the effect is deeply empathic due to Mason’s earlier free and soaring movements (some choreographed by the estimable Julian Barnett). Cosegila has assembled a strong cast to support Mason, and the excellent designer, Marija Djordjevic, has costumed them in earth tones with rich veins of mineral deposits — the effect is that they have sprouted from the ground like outcropping rocks. Chief amongst the talented young cast are Rachael Bell, whose voice rings clear as her surname, slightly daft, and Colby Chambers, who makes Skeets Miller’s journey both dramatic and heartfelt. Given Chambers’ resonance, one wonders if there is another musical to be mined from this story or, perhaps, the Wilder film. A captivating, if vocally muddied, rendition of “Is That Remarkable?” sung and danced by three reporters also prompts this notion. As well, the plight of the rescuers attains an interest that almost rivals that of Collins. Occasionally lyrics are inarticulate, but this is a vast improvement over the noisily engaging but indecipherable work Coseglia wrought from last year’s “Tommy” in the Unicorn. Coseglia has also done admirable work in his staging by spelunking every stair and cranny of the quirkily engaging theater. Guettel’s music is not as infectious as that of his grandfather, Richard Rodgers, and audiences are unlikely to leave “Floyd Collins” humming the tunes that are diverse enough to seem disparate. But there is an earnest concern here about the human condition that underscores the best of Rodgers. Ralph Hammann is The Advocate’s chief theater critic.
Share
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Families Frustrated Over Unreleased PHS Report, Herberg Slur Incident

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Parents are expressing their frustration with hate speech, bullying, and staff misconduct, which they said happens in Pittsfield schools. 

Community members and some elected officials have consistently advocated for the release of the redacted Pittsfield High School investigation report, and a teacher being placed on leave for allegedly repeating racist and homophobic slurs sparked a community conversation about how Pittsfield Public Schools can address injustices. 

The district's human resources director detailed the investigation processes during last week's School Committee meeting.

"People are angry. They feel like when they spoke up about Morningside School, it was closed anyway. They feel like they speak up about the PHS report, and that's just kind of getting shoved under the rug," resident Brenda Coddington said during public comment.

"I mean, when do people who actually voted for all of you, by the way, when does their voice and opinion count and matter? Because you can sit up here all day long and say that it does, but your actions, or rather lack of action, speak volumes."

Last month, School Committee member Ciara Batory demanded a date for the 2025 report's release to the public.

Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP for a range of allegations that surfaced or re-surfaced at the end of 2024 after Pittsfield High's former dean of students was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts.

Executive summaries were released that concluded the claims of inappropriate conduct between teachers and students were "unsupported." Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody countered one of the unsupported determinations, writing on Facebook last week that she knows one person can conclude with confidence and a court case that pictures of the staff member's genitalia was sent to minors. 

"During this investigation, we sought to determine the validity of allegations about PHS Administrator #2 sharing a photograph of female genitalia with PHS students on her Snapchat account," the final executive summary reads. 

View Full Story

More Stories

Sports
image description

Wahconah Comes Back, Wins Second Straight Western Mass Crown

Sports
Sports
image description

Lenox Wins Western Mass Title

Sports
Sports
image description

Mount Greylock's Foley Wins Western Mass Individuals Title

Sports
Sports
image description

Canes Reign in Division 5 Boys Basketball

Sports
Sports
image description

Hoosac Valley Boys Upset Drury in State Quarter-Finals

Sports
Sports
image description

Drury Comes Back on Hoosac Valley to Advance to State Semi-Finals

Sports
Latest Stories
Previous Next

What's Trending?