Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS

"The Birds" by Irish playwright Conor McPherson and directed by Barrington Stage Companies founder and artistic director JuliAnne Boyd landed on BSC's Second Stage yesterday and BroadwayWorld was nestled in with the rest of the opening night Pittsfield audience.

Even though the play is not based on the 1960's Alfred Hitchcock movie, the play still provides enough special effects to keep the audience unhinged as the birds periodically swoop in during the stressful story that unfolds. Nat (Stevie Ray Dalimore) and Diane (Kathleen McNenny meet on the road and break into a nearby farmhouse to escape the birds. Julia (Sasha Diamond) a younger woman also appears and together with a neighbor Tierney (Rocco Sisto) keep McPherson's tension filled drama airborne.

This play keeps pecking away at your emotions and you might leave the St. Germain theatre scratching your head, but it's definitely not for the birds. It's a well directed and superbly acted piece of thought provoking theatre.

Inspired by Daphne Du Maurier's chilling short story and the basis for Alfred Hitchcock's legendary film, this suspense-filled adaptation by acclaimed Irish playwright Conor McPherson is an emotionally stirring, atmospheric thriller. Mysterious masses of birds have begun to attack at high tide, driving strangers Nat and Diane to take refuge in an isolated, abandoned cabin and to form a bond to survive their haunting new circumstance. Yet if two is company, three's a crowd, as the sudden arrival of a young woman with a mysterious background ruffles feathers and quickly threatens to destroy their so-called sanctuary.

The production is designed by David Barber (sets), Brian Tovar (lighting), Elivia Bovenzi (costumes), and David Thomas (sound). Michael Andrew Rodgers is production stage manager.

Conor McPherson (Playwright) was born in Dublin in 1971. He attended the University College in Dublin, where he began to write and direct. His plays include Rum & Vodka, The Good Thief, This Lime Tree Bower, St. Nicholas, The Weir (Olivier Award, Best Play), Dublin Carol, The Night Alive, The Veil, Port Authority, Shining City (Tony Award nomination, Best Play), and The Seafarer. Film work includes "I Went Down," "Saltwater," Samuel Beckett's "Endgame," and "The Actors." Other awards include the George Devine Award; Critics' Circle Award; Evening Standard Award; Meyer Whitworth Award; Stewart Parker Award; two Irish Film & Television Academy Best Screenplay Awards; CICAE Best Film Award, Berlin Film Festival ("Saltwater"); Best Film and Best Screenplay Awards, San Sebastian Film Festival ("I Went Down").

Performances: Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30pm, and Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 3:00pm. Opening night June 18, 2017. St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center (36 Linden Street). Tickets: $15-$48. Barrington Stage Box Office: (413) 236-8888 or online at www.barringtonstageco.org.

Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Sasha Diamond, Stevie Ray Dalimore, Kathleen McNenny, Rocco Sisto

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Sydelle & Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center at BSC

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Sasha Diamond, Stevie Ray Dalimore, Kathleen McNenny, Rocco Sisto

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
JuliAnne Boyd, artistic director & director

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Kathleen McNenny, Rocco Sisto, JuliAnne Boyd, Stevie Ray Dalimore, Saha Diamond

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Rocco Sisto & JuliAnne Boyd

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Stevie Ray Dalimore & Sasha Diamond

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Rocco Sisto & Mary Ann Quinson, Board Chair BSC

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
William Finn & Lee Blatt

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS

Norman Boyd, Stephen Sorokoff, Eda Sorokoff, Julianne Boyd

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Dr. Bruce Evenchik & Dr. Robert Rosenthal

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
David Glodt & Marita O'Dea Glodt, president BSC

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Dr. Norman Boyd, Eda Sorokoff, Charlie Siedenburg

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Mark St. Germain & JuliAnne Boyd

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
Reba Evenchik, board member & Eda Sorokoff

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
St. Germain Stage

Photo Coverage: Barrington Stage Company Celebrates Opening Night of THE BIRDS
St. Germain Stage



Handel and Haydn Society Youth Choruses Partners with Hampshire Young Peoples Chorus for D Photo
The Handel and Haydn Society Youth Choruses are partnering with the Hampshire Young People’s Chorus for a joint concert in Amherst, MA on April 1.

Arlekin Players Presents JUST TELL NO ONE - A Multi-Media Staged Reading Photo
Arlekin Players, an award-winning, artist-driven theater company helmed by Ukrainian-born artistic director Igor Golyak, today announces a special one-night multimedia staged reading - Just Tell No One - hosted by The Huntington in Boston on April 27, 2023, 7:30pm ET in the Maso Studio. 

THE BANDS VISIT to Open in Boston in Fall 2023 Photo
The Huntington and SpeakEasy Stage will co-produce the Tony Award-winning musical The Band’s Visit which features music and lyrics by David Yazbek and book by Itamar Moses, as part of their respective 2023-2024 seasons.

Jimmy Webb Comes To City Winery Boston In April Photo
Multi-Grammy Award winner Jimmy Webb, whose hits have been sung by artists ranging from Glenn Campbell to Guns N' Roses will perform in concert at City Winery Boston Thursday April 6. 


From This Author - Stephen Sorokoff

Stephen is also the cabaret/ music and co-theatre editor of the Times Square Chronicles. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music. Besides being a pianist, Stephen’s business career was in... (read more about this author)


Photos: Storm Large Plays 54 BelowPhotos: Storm Large Plays 54 Below
March 23, 2023

Storm Large has made a name for herself from tours with Pink Martini to orchestral appearances at Carnegie Hall to the television stage of 'America's Got Talent.'  But it is with her loyal and fearless band, Le Bonheur, that she grabs audiences. by the lapels and refuses to let go. 

Photos: Make Your Own Party: The Songs of Goldrich and Heisler Plays 54 BelowPhotos: Make Your Own Party: The Songs of Goldrich and Heisler Plays 54 Below
March 15, 2023

The only thing missing at last night’s party for Marcy and Zina was a Latte choice in the beverage section on the menu at 54 Below (with extra foam).  

Photos: LOVE SONG SATURDAY NIGHT Brings An Evening of Romance To 54 BelowPhotos: LOVE SONG SATURDAY NIGHT Brings An Evening of Romance To 54 Below
March 13, 2023

If there is one night during the week when you want-need?- to hear love songs, well, it’s got to be a Saturday night. And this last Saturday, 54 Below provided just the right tonic of famously romantic songs in a show created and hosted by Scott Siegel titled “Love Song Saturday Night”.  

PHOTOS: Donna McKechnie Plays 54 BelowPHOTOS: Donna McKechnie Plays 54 Below
March 12, 2023

No “spoilers” here, but if you want to learn how it’s done, go see Donna McKechnie. She has information we didn’t even know we needed and I would like to be at the head of the class. Awe-inspiring.

Photos: Danny Bacher Surprises Open Mic at Cafe CentroPhotos: Danny Bacher Surprises Open Mic at Cafe Centro
March 7, 2023

See photos of Danny Bacher performing at Cafe Metro!