J. Peter Bergman is the Director of Communications at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead. In the past he has been a writer for The Berkshire Eagle, Berkshire’s Week, The Advocate, The Berkshire Beacon, The Independent and still contributes to The Chatham Courier and Edge.com and Berkshirebrightfocus.com. He is a novelist, poet and author of short fiction. His book “Counterpoints” won the 2002 Friends of Charles Dickens Award. He has been a paid theater critic since he was 15 years old.
J. Peter Bergman
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THEATRE REVIEW: Ghent Playhouse’s ‘Pinocchio’ a raucous retelling in the panto tradition
Tuesday, 3 Dec 2019 - There cannot be a better way to address the political mish-mash we live in outside of this adorable theater in Columbia County.

THEATRE REVIEW: WAM Theatre’s almost perfect ‘Pipeline’ is strong, moving, makes you think
Monday, 28 Oct 2019 - I want to know what happens to all of these people and to their lives. . . . I want to see this play again, to experience it and learn from it.

THEATRE REVIEW: Bridge Street Theatre’s ‘The Subject Was Roses’ combines directorial savvy, acting talent
Tuesday, 22 Oct 2019 - Having seen the original on Broadway and cherishing much of what I could recall, I was hoping for a passing good show here, but the director and her actors have given me so much more than that.

THEATRE REVIEW: Ghent Playhouse’s ‘The Cemetery Club’ plays out with potential on a terrific set
Tuesday, 15 Oct 2019 - “The Cemetery Club” is enjoyable enough and with a few more performances, should jell into the sort of appetizer that makes a season into a delectable dinner party.

THEATRE REVIEW: Barrington Stage’s ‘American Underground’ is powerful, important and necessary
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2019 - The reality it projects is close at hand and I witness its growth every morning on my TV. See it!

THEATRE REVIEW: Oldcastle Theatre’s intriguing ‘Water, Water, Everywhere’ fails to tie up loose ends
Tuesday, 8 Oct 2019 - The elements of this piece jibe nicely, enhance the mystery elements of the story and promote a sense of local history as theater.

THEATRE REVIEW: The Two of Us’ ‘Sweeney Todd’ features nuanced performances, subtle beauty
Monday, 7 Oct 2019 - This show, unlike other Broadway fare, is Sondheim's American opera and the orchestra, under director Stephen Sanborn's control, delivers the music like a Debussy score, or a Bizet or Schubert composition.

THEATRE REVIEW: BTG’s ‘What the Jews Believe’ shines with powerful images, great characters
Monday, 30 Sep 2019 - Directed by the author, this play moves from the overly theatrical first act into the honestly realistic second act where tears don't manifest as easily as do other emotional reactions.

THEATRE REVIEW: The Whit’s worthwhile ‘Orion’ makes good use of spatial relationships
Wednesday, 25 Sep 2019 - The play is a comedy, but don't expect hearty laughs; instead, prepare for a psychological parade of issues and oddities that pervade the lives and attitudes of the young.

THEATRE REVIEW: Shake & Co.’s ‘Time Stands Still’ is as real as real can be
Monday, 23 Sep 2019 - This is one play it doesn't pay to miss.

THEATRE REVIEW: Bridge Street’s ‘Better’ an intriguing coming-of-age tale
Monday, 16 Sep 2019 - The combination here of creative artists, one and all, has given us some amazing theater and a large, gooey table of food for thought.

THEATRE REVIEW: the Theater Barn’s ‘Moonlight and Magnolias’ makes us laugh while learning something
Monday, 9 Sep 2019 - It is a very enjoyable evening of history/comedy with enough honest laughter to make you wish for just one more gag, or one more funny truth to come along.

THEATRE REVIEW: Theater Barn’s musical farce ‘Lucky Stiff’ is outrageously funny
Tuesday, 27 Aug 2019 - Every minute of the show has something funny going on, and this production has a cast that is as funny as the writing: an excellent combination.

THEATRE REVIEW: BTG’s ‘George Gershwin Alone’ a crazily authentic experience
Monday, 26 Aug 2019 - This isn't so much a biography but a rather unique privilege: a few minutes with the genius, during which he entertains with his compositions and his personal stories.

THEATRE REVIEW: Dorset Theatre Festival’s witty and wonderful ‘Slow Food’ keeps you laughing
Saturday, 24 Aug 2019 - This is more than a simple comedy. It is about the interpersonal skills that keep a marriage alive and well.

THEATRE REVIEW: Mac-Haydn Theatre’s ‘Oklahoma!’ takes a fresh look at a revered classic
Friday, 23 Aug 2019 - If, like me, you've had enough of this show, go prepared to be stunned into applause by this stellar production.

THEATRE REVIEW: Shake & Co.’s ‘Topdog/Underdog’ a compelling play about essential relationships
Thursday, 22 Aug 2019 - The two actors are believable in their onstage relationship and the final moment in their bows brought home the special sense of family that the theater produces in its participants.

THEATRE REVIEW: Oldcastle’s ‘Judevine’ an effective and affecting play about small-town life
Wednesday, 21 Aug 2019 - The joy in watching these six actors comes from the wonderful differences they are able to bring to every character they portray.

THEATRE REVIEW: Ancram Opera House’s ‘The Brothers Size’ is riveting theater
Monday, 19 Aug 2019 - The question that remains at the end of the play is "What is justifiable when family, salvation, soul are saved by a fatal call?"

THEATRE REVIEW: Barrington Stage’s ‘Fall Springs’ is dramatically funny and amusingly serious
Friday, 16 Aug 2019 - Is it worth your time and money? It most certainly is! It will make you think, which is not always the case with a musical show.

THEATRE REVIEW: BTG’s confusing ‘What We May Be’ is beautiful with odd aspects
Thursday, 15 Aug 2019 - I am not often caught at a lack of words, but in this case, it is not clear to me what or why this play is what it is. Even so, praise for it comes naturally.

THEATRE REVIEW: Shake & Co.’s ‘Merry Wives’ a nonstop romp with hilarious sound effects, silly costumes and make-up
Wednesday, 14 Aug 2019 - Even if you think you know this play, you owe it to yourself to see it in this version.

THEATRE REVIEW: WTF’s ‘Before the Meeting’ a challenging play, very much worth seeing
Tuesday, 13 Aug 2019 - It's a hard 76 minutes, but it’s worth the effort, for the show reveals the souls of its characters.

THEATRE REVIEW: Chester Theatre’s ‘Curve of Departure’ a terrific depiction of 21st-century families
Monday, 12 Aug 2019 - Filled with small details, the play ultimately moved the full-house audience to tears and sighs of relief.

THEATRE REVIEW: WTF’s memorable ‘Ghosts’ is realistic and contemporary
Sunday, 11 Aug 2019 - With Uma Thurman’s elegance and nuanced playing, Tom Pecinka’s emotive and visceral credibility, and the other actors’ reality, the play is simply alive onstage.

THEATRE REVIEW: Mac-Haydn’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ one of the best-cast shows of the season
Saturday, 10 Aug 2019 - One of the nicest things about seeing this company work is the emergence from the corps of players of new, young stars.

THEATRE REVIEW: The Theater Barn’s ‘…Trailer Park Musical’ an enjoyable crowd-pleaser
Friday, 9 Aug 2019 - Emotions play out beautifully and musical numbers are performed with immense grace.

THEATRE REVIEW: Barrington Stage’s superb ‘If I Forget’ is a theatrical gem
Tuesday, 6 Aug 2019 - When history and religious background lead the intellectual way to drama and all the factors work perfectly—as they do in this fine play—all we have to do is sit back and let the characters take us where they must.

THEATRE REVIEW: Dorset Theatre Festival’s slightly confusing ‘Mrs. Christie’ misses the mark
Saturday, 3 Aug 2019 - Too much has been drawn from Agatha Christie's fiction, forced onto the reality of her life and left to the audience to sort out while the play is going on.

THEATRE REVIEW: With laughs aplenty, WTF’s ‘Tell Me I’m Not Crazy’ takes on a serious subject
Wednesday, 31 Jul 2019 - These are the finest moments in this play: when human comedy takes over the laughter and reality has a shot at taking over the work itself.

THEATRE REVIEW: The Theater Barn’s ‘I Love You …’ a funny and popular favorite
Wednesday, 31 Jul 2019 - It is the performances here that save the evening from becoming a yawn.

THEATRE REVIEW: In Shake & Co’s ‘The Children,’ drama leading to tragedy is as funny as can be
Tuesday, 30 Jul 2019 - It is deceptively simple, but there are so many layers of truth, humor, history and relationships that to dig through the surrounding fields of emotion to find the right spot for each and every one of them must have been a remarkable experience.