Shaw Festival - Niagara-on-the-Lake
Harvey by Mary
Chase directed by Joseph Ziegler
Since it was written in 1937,
Harvey has been one of the most frequently produced plays
across North America. It is so popular - not just for its comedy
elements, but also for its philosophical question:
what is real and what is imaginary, should we try to
dismiss/eliminate all imaginary things and live only in
materialistic reality, or should we accept and live with
figments of our imagination? Is Harvey – the giant white
invisible rabbit – real and what is his role in the real world?
There were many ways of staging this play. When I saw it many
years ago, the actual white rabbit was coming and going on the
stage. In this production Harvey is truly invisible to us, and
coming and going only to Elmwood. Elmwood's role is played
softly and calmly by Peter Krantz, and the supporting role of
Dr. Chumley is played by Norman Browning, both having over 20
years residency with The Shaw. The representatives of reality,
or mental health services, the doctor, nurse and medical
assistant contrast dramatically with the dreamlike world of
Elmwood and Harvey. In a strange way it is Harvey, the invisible
rabbit, that brings peace and care and smiles to the world. Why
is it not accepted by “sane” people?
Harvey is directed by Joseph Ziegler and
will be enjoyed at Royal George until the end of October. Take
advantage of this and see it!
Half an Hour – lunch play by J.M.Barrie
For many reasons, lunch plays at the Shaw are a great
success, much attended and much admired. Half an Hour is a great one, lasting
exactly 30 minutes and following the events taking place in
exactly half an hour. A marriage in trouble, a wife making a
decision to abandon it, her rendezvous with a lover – I don’t
want to say more, so as not to spoil this wonderful
play. Peter Kranz in the role of the husband is so different
than in Harvey,
so is Diana Donnelly as the wife, and Peter Millard as Dr.
Brodie. The story is hilarious, the acting great, the stage
design with the décor being changed in front of our eyes (design
by Tyler Sainsbury) just fabulous. There is no minute to be
missed, no line spoken to be lost, what a great relaxing play, all for a wonderful
lunch and great deal on tickets: only $30!
Again, Half an Hour continues at Royal George until
October 9.
Serious Money – by Caryl Churchil, directed by Eda Holmes
In view of the 2008 market collapse there are
currently several plays on stage dealing with various aspects of
“market” and “money” – Soulpepper in Toronto produced very
successfully Glengarry
Glenn Ross last spring, Stratford Festival is showing King of
Thieves right now. It is a timely topic, greed, crooked
brokers, frantic rush, time pressure, stocks being artificially
pushed up, faith that it all can go on forever. Good luck.
It is all about money. Making money, serious money, dealing with
money.
The quotation of Margaret Thatcher from that period says it all:
“No one would remember Good Samaritan if he’d only had good
intentions; he had money as well”. Being greedy is sexy, greed
became a virtue.
Serious Money shows London Stock Market and its collapse in 1987, known as Big
Bang in the trading world. The stage décor is very sparse, just
a London Tower clock hanging above the market floor, a few
chairs, the signs on the exit doors of the theatre showing the
international times in Tokyo, New York, London, the important
time zones for dealers. The behaviour style, pace of
conversations - or rather exclamations, dress code – all
presenting so well the business world of the 80's. It brings it
all back. There is a glossary page in the program helpful to
those not familiar with the stock market jargon, arbitrage, junk
bonds, OPEC, FOOTSIE – and it helps to understand the traders’
world. The pace is breathtaking, - each actor playing several
roles could confuse the audience, but the overall idea of
serious money to be made and to be had is there.
Serious Money will be closing September 12. Great play!
Age of Arousal inspired
by George Gissing, written by Linda Griffiths directed by Jackie
Maxwell.
This is one of the plays written recently, but set at
the end of the19th century and dealing with women’s issues of
independence, self-sufficiency and decision making. Artistic
Director of Shaw Festival Jackie Maxwell likes to select plays
like this one, and in this case she even directed it.
In this play the typewriter and profession of the typist is
expected to bring freedom and independence to single women. Or
women in two women relationships. I am not sure if the
revolutionary ideas from 120 years ago are appealing any more to
modern viewers, as we have come a long way since then.
The only interesting aspect of this play is “thoughtspeak”, the
actors conducting standard dialogues interrupted by monologues
of their inner thoughts.
Donna Belleville and Jenny Young do their best, the play
continues at Court House till October 10.
Shaw Festival Box Office has a
toll free number 1-800-511-SHAW or the information is available
on the website www.shawfest.com
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