Shaw Festival 2022
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“They’re cheering a young lad, the champion Playboy of the Western World” Former Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell returns to The Shaw this season to direct J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World. Fittingly, the play will be staged in the Studio Theatre, now named for Ms Maxwell, our Artistic Director Emerita. When she was Artistic Director, she long planned to turn that rehearsal hall space into a performance venue that would feature expanded programming. And to this day, the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre hosts some of our most provocative and thoughtful theatrical pieces … a perfect space for, you guessed it, The Playboy of the Western World. Set in a pub in western Ireland, the play tells the story of a young man, Christy Mahon, who attains a hero-like status among the local villagers when he walks into a bar and confesses to having killed his father. Intrigued? How is it to be back in Niagara-on-the-Lake and The Shaw’s rehearsal halls? It is just wonderful! It was so heartbreaking to have had our previous attempt in 2020 stifled by covid, that to be already further into the process and confidently moving ahead now is a true joy. And, as has always been the case, to walk into a rehearsal hall full of actors and creative team members from this company … game, interested and full of ideas … is what making a show together is all about. Following its opening at the Abbey Theatre, The Playboy of the Western World caused quite a bit of moral outrage in Dublin and rioting in the streets. Audiences seem to feel the Irish identity was being attacked. Is it really? No, I don’t think so at all, but like many ground-breaking artists, Synge was presenting a society that had never been seen on the stage before. He had spent time on the Western Islands of Ireland, some just off Mayo where the play takes place, and had listened to and observed a type of storytelling and lifestyle that was irreverent, often harsh and vastly different from the more “settled “parts of Ireland, especially Dublin. Hence this “new world” and its denizens deeply shocked these early audiences. In ranking the great Irish playwrights (Shaw, O'Casey, Lady Gregory, Wilde the list goes on and on) where does J.M. Synge fall in your personal list? Ha! That’s a hard one! I absolutely love all of the above and have happily directed plays by most of them. I will say though, I am always in love with a play when I’m directing it, so today’s answer must put Synge at the top … for now! Synge’s play has such a fantastic and famed title … why is Christy Mahon dubbed “The Playboy of the Western World”? It is a wonderful title, isn’t it? As is often the case with Synge, it is both real and ironic at the same time. It is a title given to Christy when, having been on the run from down South, he timidly comes into a pub on the coast of Mayo and is encouraged to tell his story. The story … a dramatic one which grows as the play progresses … earns him a heroic position in the village which eventually leads to him being hailed as “The Playboy …” etc., which is far beyond anything he has ever been dubbed before. Without revealing any more, I will say that such quickly earned titles can be just as quickly removed! How would you classify Playboy? Is it predominantly a satire, a comedy, a critique or a morality tale? I would say it is all the above … and don’t forget, very importantly, it is also a love story, with some of the most beautiful language that would sweep anyone off their feet! Previews begin this month! Don’t miss this classic play that features Qasim Khan, Marla McLean, Sanjay Talwar and Ric Reid. BUY TICKETS Production sponser Michael Eagen. Jackle Maxwell Studio Theatre Sponser - Paradigm Capital Don’t forget Mother’s Day is this month – May 14. Give the gift of an unforgettable theatre experience this Mother’s Day. Celebrate the special day at the Shaw Festival by treating her to a matinee of Gypsy or an evening performance of On the Razzle. You could also surprise her with a Shaw Festival gift certificate that can be put towards theatre tickets. Buy Now The magical experience of the Spiegeltent. European Spiegeltent (or magic mirrors) is the definitive cabaret and music salon. It is a pavilion used as a travelling dance hall, theatre venue and magical marquee since the early 20th century. The tents are built from wood, cut mirrors, canvas, leaded glass, and detailed in velvet brocade. Each one is unique with its own name, personality, and style. In their early incarnation they used to be the number one attraction at Belgian funfairs. Only a handful of them remain in the world and each have their own unique qualities and style. You’re not going to want to miss our Spiegeltent experience! Buy your tickets to The Game of Love and Chance, Mother, Daughter and A Grand Night for Singing – One Act – In Concert. Plus … ask about our VIP BOOTH! Improvised by the Shaw Ensemble - a new play every time! The Game of Love and Chance by Pierre de Marivaux is a romantic comedy about how love can make every master a servant. If you’re supposed to marry a man you’ve never met, how can you get a sense of his character? How about trading places with your maid? But what if your betrothed has the same idea and switches with his valet? Marivaux’s classic romantic comedy shows how untameable love really is. To match its spirit, this production will be played by a different cast every time – and there will be no learning of lines. The play will be improvised each time it is played. Literally anything could happen. Buy Tickets Production Sponser - James F. Brown Join us online at the end of each month for a fun, FREE interactive Happy Hour event that brings you closer to our art and artists! From our Ensemble and directors to the designers and craftspeople who work tirelessly behind the scenes to produce the theatre you love, our guests will take you on a creative journey, sharing their unique perspectives, inspiration, and a sneak peek into our productions. Happy Hour - Thursday May 25 | 5pm - Thursday June 29 | 5pm - Thursday July 27 | 5pm Free for everyone. Forward this invitation to anyone who might like to attend. Click here to register for the May Happy Hour This event is made possible by Friends of The Shaw – our loyal donors who support The Shaw’s efforts to produce incredible theatre and arts education across Ontario and Western New York. BOO! The Art of Ideas: The Allure of Ghosts. June 24 $25, $20 for Shaw Friends Do you believe in ghosts? Do you want to? Ghosts are benevolent, scary, helpful, and mischievous. What is it about the supernatural that draws our attention and captivates our imagination? Every culture in the world has a connection to the paranormal. Why do ghosts find a way into our stories? What do they have to say to us? What does the allure of ghosts say about ourselves? - The Art: Megan Gilchrist, Local Historian/Storyteller - The Ideas: Dr Anne Porter, Former University of Toronto Professor and Archaeologist. Call 1-800-511-7429 to book Reminder! The Shaw Guild Garden Tour is June 24. June 24 from 10am - 4pm The ever-popular annual Shaw Guild Garden Tour will feature fabulous private gardens in beautiful and historic Niagara-on-the-Lake. Tickets are $30. Buy Tickets Roadwork Alert There - will be some major construction that has the potential to impact traffic flow on Highway 55 and Four Mile Creek Road in Virgil. It is highly recommend leaving earlier as there will be intermittent lane closures and traffic delays. Please plan accordingly. For more information Changes to Parking Machines in NOTL Heritage District. The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake's parking machines, located within the Heritage District, will no longer accept credit card payments. Coins will continue to be accepted through these parking machines, as well as credit card payments via the Honk Mobile app or a QR code for contactless payment. Learn More THANK YOU! Thank you to everyone who came out on April 15. With an auction that raised more than $50,000 and a capacitv crowd, this year's Shaw Shivaree was a huge success! We are grateful to everyone for their enthusiasm and commitment to this wonderful Shaw fundraising event. See vou next vear! Dillon's SHAW SHIVAREE SPONSORS Läke Report M MURRAY Niagara on.the.hake Realty PELLER O ESTATES CATERING PARTNERS: Garrison House, Niagara Juice Co., Ruffino's, Tide & Vine, Treadwell, Wellington Court and Yorkshire Pudding. SHIVAREE COMMITTEE: Chris Semple (Chair), Diana Adachi, Val Baldassare, Yvonne Causer, Lauren Goettler, Lvle Hall. Deborah Hugh, Arln Levy and Weston Miller.

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

Jackie Maxwell. Photo by David Cooper. Ryan G. Hinds, Intern Director (2022). Photo by Peter Andrew Lusztyk.

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