Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA
July 31 – August 17, 2025
by Simon Brighenti
“How far is too far?” That is a theme that permeates “Joan” presented at the Barrington Stage Company. The titular character is, of course, the pioneering female comic Joan Rivers.
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| Photo by Scott Smeltzer |
Tessa Auberjonois nails the roles of “older Joan” as well as Joan’s mother Mrs. Molinsky; Elinor Gunn portrays both “younger Joan” and Joan’s daughter Melisa. (Melissa Rivers is Executive Producer). Andrew Borba shines as the mercurial Edgar Rosenberg, Joan’s second husband and the tragic figure most famously associated with the comedian. He also embodies a variety of other parts, including Joan’s father, and Johnny Carson. Rounding out the cast is a versatile Zachary Prince, convincingly portraying several characters vital to the story, ranging from a bellhop to Jimmy Fallon.
Auberjonois has the nasal intonation and vocal cadences down cold. Gunn presents a calming presence as daughter Melissa as well as a confidently striving young Joan.
As a female – yes, again that matters as she was one of the first of her gender-comedian growing up in the 1950’s and ‘60’s, Joan had no map to follow, no real mentor from whom to seek guidance.
Standup comedy was a man’s world at that time and television, still in relative infancy, was also total testosterone territory. She knew she was funny and could write jokes with the best of them -- many of which brought hearty laughter from the nearly full house. But how to get an audience to realize that fact was something she had to figure out as she went along.
As her early years are highlighted on stage, we see Joan’s parents expressing their determination to get Joan married off. The persona that elevated her to being one of the most famous women in the country at one time was one of self-deprecation; her most famous punchlines relate to her purported unattractiveness.
The play effectively exposes at least two levels of the question presented at the outset. How much do you give up in terms of family, relationships, money, and self-respect to get to where you want to be? And, to a lesser extent, how crude can a woman be, how many taboos can she break and not have it backfire. There ARE stretches of vulgarity that could make some more sensitive observers blush; exposing Joan’s raw material.
There are scenes where Joan and Edgar acknowledge that the people who know “Joan” do not know Joan. The comedianne's story shows her oftentimes as a meal ticket to her so-called friends. Some scenes presented a poignant and revealing side to Joan.
The set is essentially a few tables and chairs, and some neon signs effectively suggest where the business is taking place. The costuming is time and persona appropriate.
The overall impact of this performance is an enjoyable tour through a life of laughter and persistence, of calculation and compromise, exposing the times of a true comic legend; a life in full.
