Shaw Festival - Niagara-on-the-Lake
The Cherry Orchard by Chekhov
adapted by Tom Murphy, directed by Jason Byrne.
The Cherry Orchard is a very classic Russian play that this time has
been adapted by two Irishmen, Tom Murphy and Jason Byrne,
with the intention of connecting Russian melancholy and loss of
the Russian nobility with similar experiences
in Ireland. I am not sure if they succeeded. There is definitely
Russian atmosphere, nostalgia, inactivity, longing for the past
and depression.
 The estate of an old and gracious family is about to be
auctioned for debts, when the present owner Lyubov Ranyevskaya
(played by Laurie Paton) returns from abroad and is
offered a modern solution to save her land: divide the land into
plots and lease it out. The time passes, she is unable or
unwilling to make any decision. It is over.
In the dim setting facial expressions at times are difficult to
see. The action flows slowly and many scenes are acted out
without dialogue. There is much symbolism, referrals to the
past, personal relationships and unspoken issues. It helps to
have some familiarity with Russian culture and history. Benedict
Campbell as Lopakhin is very good, so brazenly open in his
emotions, Jim Mezon as Gayev has more depth, Laurie Paton
fulfils her role very well. It is one of those plays one has to
see once in a lifetime – and this time it is really well done.
The Cherry Orchard is running at
The
Courthouse till October this year.
The Women by Clare Boothe Luce
The play was written
in the Depression years – however, you would never know it. The
world of women of the affluent class did not know it and did not
experience it. Their world was constructed around new clothes,
chocolates, gossip and
 romance, the only career option was to be
a wife. Even a divorce did not change comfortable lifestyles,
their interests were limited to the aforementioned items.
In this 2010 production at Shaw, the central role of Mary is
played by Jenny Young, who discovers her husband is having an
affair and consequently divorces him. There is no drama or pain,
the 12 years of marriage are being exchanged for the stylish
 independence of a well-supported divorcee. There is a crowd of supportive ladies, all existing in
the realm of playing cards, vacationing on the Mediterranean
Coast and chatting about their present or past husbands, fashion
and leisure. It all ends well. Laughter and applause.
The stage design is lovely, acting is delightful
and the play very suitable for a lovely evening at Niagara-on-the-Lake with a glass of
wine. It all ends well.
The Women continues at The Festival Theatre
till October.
One Touch of Venus – music by Kurt Weil, lyrics by Ogden Nash.
A sculpture of Venus suddenly comes to life in New York and
chases a hapless barber around Manhattan. There are plenty of
known melodies, “Very, very, very”, “Speak low”, and others.
There is dancing, flirting and confusion.
 The play is recognized
as Weill’s appreciation of New York in the mid 1930's and his
successful collaboration with Ogden Nash.
Robin Evan Wills in the title role is obviously having a much
better time than he had in The Cherry
 Orchard. Deborah Hay plays the role of Molly Grant; Paul
Sportelli carefully orchestrates the music, and Michael
Gianfrancesco designs costumes. One Touch of Venus continues at
Royal
George until October 10.
Shaw Festival 2010 Guide can be obtained by calling
Shaw Festival Box Office at 1-800-511-SHAW or by contacts listed
on the website www.shawfest.com.
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