K-W & Beyond

Shaw Festival 2008

Summer is in full colourful bloom with visitors enjoying the wonderful summer weather and sites, especially at Niagara-on-the-Lake where The Shaw Festival competes with the pleasure of visiting the vineyards and checking on local restaurants.

Mrs. Warren’s Profession by Bernard Shaw.

There could not be The Shaw Festival without Shaw. Last year it was Saint Joan, this year it is Mrs. Warren’s Profession, written in 1893-94, published in 1898, staged in 1902 and immediately banned in England. In America it was staged in 1905 and the licence revoked after a single performance. Eventually it opened at the Manhattan Theatre in 1907 and went on national tour. The first successful production in Europe commenced in 1925 in London’s West End. What an interesting history.

Initially it was banned due to the unmentionable subject of the play: prostitution as a profession and making a successful living on it. In this production, the moral aspect is somewhat less up front and social issues more prominent. What were the alternatives for the young impoverished women: factory work or domestic employment – neither would provide income sufficient to support a family. Mrs. Warren’s enterprise offered a possibility of better income for women, comfortable living for herself, education for her daughter and the return of investment of 35% for Sir George Croft. The outrage and rejection by Vivie Warren of her mother and her convictions is less harsh than in past productions. Jackie Maxwell as a director is not making it a moral issue, but rather a conflict between mother and daughter, the drama of reunion, mistrust, betrayal and rejection, and the social issue of choices women had at the turn of the century. Maybe the times have changed. Maybe life is less simple and clear: somehow everyone is unknowingly involved in profiting from questionable sources, having income from mutual funds invested in tobacco, overpriced drugs, third world exploitations, mortgage schemes which make people lose their houses.

The acting was great: Mary Hanley as Mrs. Warren, her low class accent really standing out. Moya O’Connell as Vivie Warren going through stages of acceptance and rejection, David Jansen as Praed (better role for him than in The Foxes), Benedict Campbell as Sir George Crofts, so pragmatic in his plans, are also worth mentioning.

It is no longer a moral play dealing with the abhorrent issue of prostitution as perceived over 100 years ago. It is a classic Shaw play, very well done, emphasising other aspects of those days and giving modern audiences something to think about. Mrs. Warren’s Profession is at The Festival Theatre till November 1.

A Little Night Music - music by Stephen Sondheim.

The setting is summer in Sweden, long evenings, short nights, slightly unreal atmosphere of the turn of the century. There are three mismatched couples spending a weekend in the country, remembering, dreaming, wishing.

Since it is a musical, the actors are also singing. It is difficult to assemble actors who can also sing and dance, and I wish they had stronger voices. It is the intimate setting of The Court House, so there is no voice support and aside from one or two male voices, all others fade by comparison. "A Weekend in the Country" sung by the whole cast is very good, "Send in the Clowns," sung by Goldie Semple is less memorable. The choreography by Valerie Moore is excellent, so are the costumes. The décor adds to the unreal atmosphere, the movable trees, and few props brought in and taken out. Conducted by Paul Sportelli there is an orchestra of five, rather small for the Sondheim musical, playing at the back of the stage. Morris Panych’s directing adds to the dreamlike atmosphere. The idea for the background chorus of singers and dancers in their plain black attire is just perfect.

Donna Belleville as Madame Armfeldt is exceptional, her relationship with Frederika (Michaela Bekenn) very meaningful. Also Julie Martell as Petra deserves applause. Goldie Semple as Desirée is very good in creating her character, her voice unfortunately too weak for the demanding songs.

It is a lovely musical, just right for the evening at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Enjoy it.

It continues at the Court House till October 4^th.

The President by Ferenc Molnár.

It is one of those great lunchtime plays, lasting 55 minutes and making you laugh for the whole time. A wonderful farce translated from Hungarian, directed by Blair Williams successfully replacing early 20^th century Budapest with New York.

The President (Lorne Kennedy) is going on vacation and in the last moment of taking care of business he finds his friend’s daughter Lydia (Chilina Kennedy), an heiress to a fortune, surprising him with news of her secret marriage to a local taxi driver. Lydia has been "in his care" for a while and her doting parents are arriving in an hour. The President has much at stake and no time to lose and he makes an instant decision to save the situation by transforming Tony Foot into a socially very acceptable individual: he buys him a new much better name, dresses him up, teaches him how to speak and what to say – and voila, we have a new President to welcome, and the old President can go for his planned vacation. Lydia, not as innocent as initially thought to be, participates eagerly in the transformation. The play moves at bullet-speed pace, the support staff doing their work, the main characters leading the mad farce along.

Jeff Meadows is superb in his role as Tom Foot, so is Lorne Kennedy as the President. The Hungarian comedy written in 1936 reflects some of the modern concepts of grooming for high positions – as required – without necessary qualifications or background. The world has not changed much.

The President is offering lunchtime fun at Royal George till October 4^th.

To obtain the tickets or the seasonal program call 1-888-619-5981 or visit www.niagaraonthelake.com. It is a great season and a great selection of plays.


Drayton Entertainment – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

There are 6 locations of Drayton Entertainment theatres in South Western Ontario, 2 in St. Jacobs, 2 in Grand Bend, 1 in Drayton and 1 in Penetanguishene. The plays are intended to be entertainment for the cottage country and vicinity. Alex Mustakas is doing it well and even planning to expand. Last time I’ve heard – to Cambridge.

Some of the theatres present 5 plays per season like St Jacobs Country Playhouse or Drayton Festival, some 4 or just one. Some of the plays travel around with the shows in more than one playhouse, some are just local. Judging by the attendance there is a demand for just entertainment and the audience appreciate it.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was presented in St. Jacobs Theatre at the end of June and will be repeated at Huron Country Playhouse from July 16 till August 9^th. It is a hilarious story of two con artists on the French Riviera targeting wealthy ladies with requests for money for whatever cause would work (regaining the throne or grandmother’s surgery). Brian McKay and Stephen Patterson play the parts of the con artists, and they both have much fun with them. There is dancing, funny gigs, misunderstandings, and charm spread all over the stage. Music and lyrics by David Yazbek are good, the stage décor changes with some technical problem noise, the overall troupe of actors/singers/dancers quite well prepared. Choreography by Jackie Mustakas is rather basic – but then, the whole story as well as production is not a sophisticated one. Just a laughable farce for the cottage country.

Some other plays by Drayton Entertainment soon to come: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Playhouse II in Grand Bend July 16 to August 30.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend August 13 to 30. Forever Plaid at St Jacobs Schoolhouse in St. Jacobs October 15 to December 21. Steel Magnolias at Drayton Festival Theatre in Drayton – August 12 to 30^th.

The house program foe all 6 locations is available on any of those theatres and also by calling 1-888-449-4463 or login onto the website www.draytonentertainment.com.