Burlington Players' Kodachrome Shines Bright With Heartwarming Humor
A review of Kodachrome, a production by the Burlington Players, which premiered on November 8, 2024.
Theater Review by Jon Sachs & Ruth Neeman
Kodachrome, by prolific playwright Adam Szymkowicz, opened at the Burlington Players last weekend.
The play itself, as well as its production, are wonderful. A rich, imaginative complement to the famous Thornton Wilder play Our Town, Kodachrome is inspired by its mood and spirit but takes the audience on a different journey. If you have seen Our Town, you will enjoy the contrast; if you have not, no worries! You will enjoy the play on its own.
Kodachrome shows you a group of quirky characters from a small New England town and blends their stories in ways that are surprising and engaging.
The Burlington Players' ensemble for this play consists of 6 actors who play 16 different characters. All the actors are superb in every role, but of course each shines brightest in their main role. Katie Gluck, for example, portrays the town's de facto photographer and beholder with subtlety, grace and humor.
Although the play deals strongly with issues of mortality, there are many moments of humor, which director Kristin Hughes handles perfectly.
The set also plays many roles and handles them gracefully with creative use of digital imagery. The lighting becomes an important actor in the play; as scenes change, the lighting brings us from one area to another with perfect timing, in one case slowly brightening to match the upwelling in the mood of Karen Dervin's character.
Kodachrome is not a simple-minded play; light, almost sitcom-like, moments blend seamlessly with others that go very deep. But, while you need to pay attention to fully appreciate the show's depth, the performance pulls you along with a strong grasp from beginning to end.
When community theater is good, the experience is the best. You sit close; you can hear well; you can see every expression. And Kodachrome is really good community theater. We heartily recommend you bring friends and go see Kodachrome at the Burlington Players.
Kodachrome's remaining shows run November 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23 at 8:00 PM and November 17 at 2:00 PM. Get tickets here; the Park Playhouse is located at 1 Edgemere Ave., Burlington, MA 01803.
