Shaw Festival 2022
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The doctor will see you now - There’s nothing wrong with your spine; and there’s nothing wrong with your heart; but there’s something wrong with your common sense. Shaw doesn’t get any more topical than in his 1906 play The Doctor’s Dilemma, now on stage at the Festival Theatre. Last mounted at The Shaw in 2010, the world is a vastly different place then it was just 12 years ago and the questions Shaw poses have never been more relevant or brought to life so poignantly then in this tragicomic tour de force. Diana Donnelly directs a wonderful cast that includes Sanjay Talwar as the doctor at the centre of the dilemma, plus Alexis Gordon, Johnathan Sousa and Sharry Flett. Read on to discover her thoughts on one of Shaw’s most popular plays and why she finds it one of his sexiest. You’ve been the lead in several of Shaw’s big plays – the title role in Major Barbara, Raina in Arms and The Man, Liberty Bell in Peace in Our Time (an adaptation of Geneva), Joan herself in Saint Joan at Theatre Calgary directed by Neil Munro – have those experiences with Shaw’s texts helped you to direct The Doctor’s Dilemma?
                        For sure. As a young actor playing Shaw, I learnt that whatever chaos and heart mess a scene requires of you, you must keep your thinking crystal clear. Shaw’s goal was transcendence. When you do his plays deeply, they change your mind about something you used to believe.Shaw’s works tend to have strong female characters. Is this true for The Doctor’s Dilemma? And do you agree he has a good handle on the female psyche?
                        In The Doctor’s Dilemma, Jennifer Dubedat, played by the brilliant Alexis Gordon, is a powerhouse who happens to be married to a genius artist, Louis, played by the equally brilliant Johnathan Sousa. Shaw writes women with their own moral/spiritual/economic concerns. They are not appendages of the men they are with. But, to answer your last question: Do I agree Shaw had a good handle on the female psyche? I suspect he would laugh if asked that and wiggle his eyebrows. My answer: Shaw wrote his female characters as full humans, which remains radical.In an interview you’ve described this play by Shaw as ‘sexy’, which is not a word commonly used to describe his works. Can you tell us a bit more about this sexiness?
                        Ha! I’ll try. Shaw was susceptible to love. It’s always there in his plays: the danger and delight of the Life Force wrecking and creating everything. Sex and Reason battling it out. In The Doctor’s Dilemma, 
Dr Ridgeon has an eerie feeling something is about to happen to him. Then Jennifer walks in and his life is forever altered. And finally, is Dr Colenso Ridgeon (played by Sanjay Talwar) maybe one of the best character names in all of Shaw?
                        Hmmm … a quick Google search will tell you that Colenso means “Dark pool under a tree.” Not easy to act, but interesting. Also, Ridgeon rhymes with pigeon … which means … nothing. But both names are fun to say. Sanjay Talwar is so believable and complex in this production of The Doctor’s Dilemma as a doctor faced with an impossible choice. A mortal with a God job. Poor old Colenso. Don’t miss this gorgeous and thoughtful production directed by Diana Donnelly, on stage until October 8. Buy Tickets Production Sponsor Dorothy Strelsin Foundation And if you're looking for more Bernard Shaw, there is great ticket availability for his surreal extravaganza Too True to Be Good! SHAW'S SIXTIETHSEASON SELFIE STATION Say that three times fast! Make memories and take a selfie in front of ourbeautiful Sixtieth Season selfie station. Situated on the Festival Theatre
                      patio, take a wander over to it at intermission and capture yourself lookingbeautiful and theatrical. Don't forget to post it on your social media accounts,tag us using #Share YourShaw and #Shaw60. We'd love to see you! Just how familiar are you with Niagara's history? Come and find out how much you know! Perfect for all ages, A Short History of Niagara is a presentation in sophisticated artistry, created and performed by Alexandra Montagnese and Mike Petersen. This short but wonderful production tells the history of our beautiful region through clever puppetry, woven together through vignettes that will charm young and old alike. Don't miss out on this
                      unique show. BUY TICKETS Commissioned and presented by the Shaw Festival in partnership with Parks Canada Production Sponsors Outdoors @ The Shaw Sponsor Humeniuk Foundation James & Diane King  BMO Summer at The Shaw We'd love for you to join us for a few of these events. Pop-up Patio Thursdays in August / 4:30pm / Free Festival Theatre Courtyard Patio Stay after the show and enjoy Food! Refreshments! Live Music! Open to all, no theatre ticket required. Food & beverages available ($). Outdoors @ The Shaw Theatrical and musical delights ... all outdoors, continues until October 6. Visit shawfest.com for dates and details. Coffee Concert August 28, 10:30 / $10 Classical music concerts performed by members of the Shaw Festival Orchestra. Light Revealed scratchboard engravings by Scott McKowen Light Revealed SCRATCHBOARD ENGRAVINGS RY In the book Light Revealed, scratchboard master artist Scott McKowen builds on his 2009 retrospective, A Fine Line, with a personal selection of more than 150 new works. He gives a detailed analysis of each piece and describes what influenced his design. He includes images of the reference works he consulted during the conceptual process and talks about the struggles he had  arriving at a design solution. He also discusses the influence and advantages of technological developments, such as Photoshop, which have carried the medium into the 21st century. $49.95 Look for it on The Shawp shelves later in August. Email mweaver@shawfest.com to reserve your copy today. FALL PLAY BY PLAY September 28-30 Three days, four plays, and sessions with the creative minds who bring our plays to life. Gain insight and expand your stage knowledge into The Doctor's Dilemma, Everybody, August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean and Just to Get Married. Registration includes three lunches, presentations and parking. $250, $225 for Shaw Friends, $150 online. Cost does not include theatre tickets. Call 1-800-511-7429 to book. Schedule subject to change. SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT 60 YEARS Help us reach our goal of $200,000! Your gift today ensures future generations will benefit from The Shaw’s extraordinary performances, education and outreach programs.
                      At The Shaw, we firmly believe everyone should have equitable access to our art, whether it’s through our plays, our events or our education and volunteer programs. Each year, we devote our resources to developing art and education programs – both online and in person – to help people of all ages stay engaged and connected with The Shaw. When you donate to our 60th Anniversary Special Appeal, your contribution will go straight to work in ensuring future generations can enjoy, learn and benefit from the Festival’s performances and programs.
                      Visit our website for more information.
                      Donate online or call Membership Services at 1-800-657-1106 ext 2556. 
Governors Council and Premier level call 1-800-657-1106 ext 2208 Visit our website for more information. Donate online or call Membership Services at 1-800-657-1106 ext 2556. Governors Council and Premier level call 1-800-657-1106 ext 2208 It’s a Peach of a Celebration! Peach Festival August 13 & 14 10am - 5pm
                      Come to Niagara-on-the-Lake (and The Shaw) and celebrate the return of the Annual Peach Festival on Queen Street. 
                      Celebrate the peach harvest with live music, displays, vendors, entertainment, food, fun and lots of Greenbelt-grown peaches. On Sunday enjoy the jumble table, pastries, book sale and other fun activities at 
St Vincent de Paul’s church Peach Festival running from 10am to 3:30pm.

© 2022 Shaw Festival Theatre

10 Queen's Parade, Box 774, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 1J0 Canada 1-800-511-7429

The cast of The Doctor’s Dilemma. Photo by David Cooper. A Short History of Niagara and Fall Play by Play photos by Peter Andrew Lusztyk. Festival lobby photo by Cosmo Condina.

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