The playbill for 2009 Stratford Shakespeare Festival
season was announced last year in August – really early for the
audience as well as the producers, the actors and the technical
support. As the times for the opening nights approach – some as
early as April – let me give you some idea what is there waiting
for us:
This time there are three Shakespeare plays : Macbeth
directed by Des McAnuff with Colm Feore in the title role,
Julius Ceasar with some popular actors: Ben Carlson
as Brutus, Jonathan Goad as Mark Anthony and Tom Rooney as
Cassius, and Midsummer Night Dream with Dion
Johnstone as Oberon and Yanna McIntosh as Titiana. Macbeth
and Julius Ceasar will open in May,
Midsummer Night Dream later – in August.
I am especially interested in the production of the latter,
since I have seen it only once ages ago in the outdoor
production in High Park.
In line with the period classics there is a play by Ben Johnson
Bartholomew Fair directed by Antoni Cimolino,
Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, a wonderful
swashbuckling story, full of colourful fights and a romance, and
Three Sisters, a classic by Chekhov. Martha Henry,
an accomplished actress, directs the last one with Lucy Peacock,
Adrienne Gould and Irene Poole in the main roles. It will be
interesting to see how it will come out this time. The last very
classic play is Phedre by Racine, translated and
adapted by Timberlake Wertenbaker. I am very fond of modern
translations of the classic dramas and their new adaptations,
hopefully as good as last year’s Fuente Ovejuna. A
bit more recent (everything is relative) is The Importance
of Being Earnest written by Oscar Wilde, directed by
Brian Bedford and featuring Brian Bedford as Lady Bracknell –
this in itself is worth the trip to Stratford!
There will be two musicals this summer: West Side
Story, well known and much loved, with explosive dance
numbers and an unforgettable score by Leonard Bernstein and
Stephen Sondheim – as the brochure describes. There will be much
to accomplish for the choreographer and the dancers, I am sure,
and much to sing along with as well. The second musical, music
and lyrics also by Stephen Sondheim, is A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to the Forum, again directed by Des
McAnuff, set in ancient Rome, - a comedy, a love story, and full
of fun.
At the Studio Theatre, a much more intimate space featuring
modern plays, the world premiere of Morris Panych’s play
The Trespassers will be staged, and the author himself
will direct it. Another play Zastrozzi by George
F.Walker is scheduled,
and finally Rice Boy by Sunil Kuruvilla, who is a
Canadian of East Indian descent, the recipient of two
United Nations’ literary awards - and his plays have been staged
through North America.
The season has already opened and will continue until November.
Stratford Shakespeare Festival 2009 Guide may be obtained
and tickets booked by calling Stratford Office at 1-800-567-1600
or through the website
www.stratfordshakespearefestival.com. The
Guide also features local restaurants, shopping, hotels, Bed &
Breakfast and other attractions. Needless to say it is one of
the best repertory theatres on this continent, and we are lucky
to have it within easy access in South Western Ontario – so do
not hesitate, take advantage of it and enjoy summer!
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