OPENING
CAROLINE IN JERSEY | Melinda Lopez's new play finds our heroine "down and out in New Jersey" — her acting career is tanking, and "a peculiar stranger has made his presence known in her new apartment." Can Caroline get it together? Will LeBow, Matt McGrath, Lea Thompson, and Brenda Wehle star in this world premiere; Williamstown Theatre Festival artistic associate Amanda Charlton directs. | Williamstown Theatre Festival Nikos Stage, 1000 Main St, Rte 2, Williamstown | 413.597.3400 | August 5-16 | Curtain 3 + 8 pm Thurs | 8 pm Fri | 4 + 8:30 pm Sat | 2 pm Sun | $35-$37
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS | It's Shakespeare, it's on the Common, it's from Commonwealth Shakespeare, one of the nation's top purveyors of free Shakespeare, and it's, yes, free — what more do you need to know? Okay, this is one of the Bard's earliest and slapstickiest comedies, and it doesn't get done all that often. Arriving at Ephesus from their home in Syracuse, Antipholus and his servant Dromio discover their separated-at-birth twins, who of course have the same names, so you can imagine the mistaken-identity situations that ensue. Steve Maler directs; the cast includes Remo Airaldi as Dromio of Ephesus, Larry Coen as Dromio of Syracuse, Joseph Stamell as Antipholus of Ephesus, Dan Roach as Antipholus of Syracuse, Fred Sullivan Jr. as Ægeon, Jennifer Ellis as Adriana, and Zofia Gozynska as Luciana. Oh, and "one very important part has not yet been fully cast. . . . Interested greyhounds should call 617.426.0863." | Boston Common, Parkman Bandstand |www.commshakes.org| July 31–August 16 | Curtain 8 pm Tues-Sat | 7 pm Sun | Free
DEATH OF A SALESMAN | Attention must be paid once again as Independent Theatre Company presents Arthur Miller's Tony- and Pulitzer-winning story of Willy Loman, who as his sales career starts to tank wonders whether he can't provide for his family by committing suicide so they can collect his insurance. (The insurance company, of course, has other ideas.) Miller wrote his play back in 1949, but 50 years later, it hardly seems out of date. Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Black Box Theatre, 539 Tremont St, Boston | 617.933.8600 | July 30–August 8 | Curtain 8 pm Thurs-Fri | 3 + 8 pm Sat | 3 pm Sun | $20-$25
THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE | Shakespeare & Company takes up Donald Freed's 2005 two-hander, whose setting is Panama City in 1989. The Americans are invading, and General Manuel Noriega has taken refuge in the papal nunciature, where his only companion is Archbishop José Laboa. The general is looking for sanctuary abroad from the archbishop; when that's not forthcoming, he starts to explain why the mess he's in is not his fault but the CIA's. Dennis Krausnick and Ignatius Anthony make up the cast; Dee Evans and Clare Reedy direct. | Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, 70 Kemble St, Lenox | 413.637.3353 | July 30–August 16 | Curtain 8:30 pm July 30, 31 + August 1, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15 | 3 pm August 16 | $16-$38; $11-$29 students, seniors
