Stratford Festival 2010
 Four of the 12 plays to be presented at Stratford this year are
Shakespeare’s:
The Tempest – very much anticipated with Christopher
Plummer as Prospero,
The Winter’s Tale, rarely performed bittersweet drama of
suspicions of infidelity,
The Two Gentlemen of Verona and As You Like It,
both romantic comedies with much lighter themes.
Caesar and Cleopatra by Bernard Shaw, a 2008 production
at Stratford with Christopher Plummer and Nikki M. James has
been filmed and played not only on television, but also at
Cineplex theatres across Canada. I have heard that there are
plans to do the same with The Tempest and possibly
some other plays. Filming and presenting great operas or plays
on a huge screen to an audience that otherwise would not be able
to see them in person is a great success. Christopher Plummer as
an actor has matured, and his immediate success and long term
career is no longer a concern at the age of 79 or so, he can
just relax and enjoy the art of acting.
Another classic drama to come this summer is Dangerous
Liaisons, written by Christopher Hampton and known from
the movie of the same title. At Stratford the main characters
are played by Tom McManus and Seana McKenna. It takes place in
pre-Revolutionary France, and is a complex drama of the
seduction and destruction of naïve and innocent women.
There are three musicals coming this season: Evita,
music by Andrew Lloyd Webber with Chilina Kennedy as Eva Peron,
Kiss Me, Kate with music and lyrics of Cole Porter
and King of the Thieves, with music by John Roby
and lyrics by George F. Walker.
Evita is well known, both the story and the songs.
Chilina Kennedy had a major singing role in West Side
Story last summer, and we are looking forward to seeing
her again.
Kiss Me, Kate is a musical version of The Taming
of the Shrew with a couple of gangsters and gambling
added to boot. Again, Juan Chioran, Monique Lund and Chilina
Kennedy have singing roles.
King of Thieves was inspired by The Beggar’s
Opera, with its thieves, FBI agents and a nightclub
cabaret, all set up around 1928. It all looks like fun.
A play for families with children: Peter Pan is
full of magical adventures, a boy who refuses to grow up as he
floats through the air in a world of fairies and maidens and of
course Captain Hook. It is at Avon Theatre from mid April to the
end of October, so there is lots of time to see it.
For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again by a Quebec
playwright Michel Tremblay is a tribute to his mother as well as
all mothers and the relationship they have with their children.
Finally, two plays about art and artists: Do Not Go Gentle
about Dylan Thomas, his life, his childhood in Wales, many
romantic adventures, all supported by whisky and humour.
The second one, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living
in Paris, is a musical and a tribute to Jacques Brel,
his music, lyrics and life, well-known in Europe and dating back
to the 60-s, I believe.
I’ve heard that the tickets for The Tempest are
selling fast. Although the summer seems to be far away,
especially in the snowy days of February, I urge you to plan to
attend a play or plays at Stratford. The Festival is going
strong, and has received considerable donations that should
secure its artistic future; the town is lovely, be it for a day
or a weekend.
All the information about the plays, performances, opening dates
and tickets are on the web-site
www.stratfordfestival.ca or call 1-800-567-1600.
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