On Stage

ONffi® nrpipriV?X ^^JUDITHFISHER ö 1 AvrH/>=^Queen's University It's festival time of the year again in Canada with the Shaw Festival running until mid-October and the Stratford Festival (Richard Monette's first season at the helm) until mid-November. The new seasons elsewhere in Canada are gradually being announced, so I shall include as much news as I have received to date and catch up on the rest in the next issue. For those of you going to London, England, there were some reportedly splendid productions playing in the West End in May that we can only hope will enjoy long runs. NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE: SHAW FESTIVAL The brochure names no names for the plays this season. It's likely that many of the regulars will return, although Barry MacGregor is at Stratford this year. Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw Festival Theatre· 20 April - 16 October · Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle Festival Theatre· 18 June - 15 October · Too Good to be True by George Bernard Shaw Court House Theatre· 18 June - 25 September · Rococo by Granville Barker (Lunchtime Theatre) Royal George Theatre· 15 June - 25 September · Annajanska, The Bolshevik Empress by George Bernard Shaw Limited run· 3 August - 28 · The Shaw Festival will mail its handbook and brochure on request. Please phone 1-800-267-4759. STRATFORD, ONTARIO: STRATFORD FESTIVAL The Pirates ofPenzance by W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan Festival Theatre· 1 June - 12 November · (previews and student matinees begin May 9) Directed and choreographed by Brian Macdonald with CoIm Feore as the Pirate King. On Stage105 Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand (translated & adapted by Anthony Burgess) Festival Theatre· 3 June - 12 November · (previews and student matinees begin May 18) Directed by Derek Goldby and designed by Tim Goodchild with an all-star cast: Martha Bums as Roxane. CoIm Feore as Cyrano, with Barry MacGregor. Nicholas Pennel, Bernard Hopkins, and Michelle Fisk. STRATFORD FESTTVAL also has a Celebrated Writers Series which you might want to include as you plan your visit. Here are some dates and writers to keep in mind: At the Festival Theatre at 10:30 a.m. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.· Sunday, 26 June · Roberston Davies· Sunday, 10 July · At the Tom Patterson Theatre at 10:30 a.m. Michael Ondaatje· Sunday, 17 July · Richard Wilbur· Sunday, 7 August · Timothy Findley· Sunday, 28 August · At the Avon Theatre at 10:30 a.m. Margaret Atwood· Sunday, 4 September · The Festival Brochure includes the Visitors' Guide this season and tells you everything about the shows, where to stay, etc. You can reserve your tickets and your lodging, as well as ask for this handy package, by calling 1-800-567-1600. EDMONTON, ALBERTA Caesar and Cleopatra by George Bernard Shaw Citadel Theatre: Shoctor Stage· 1 1 September - 2 October · The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekov Citadel Theatre: Shoctor Stage· 26 February - 19 March, 1995 · KAMLOOPS, BRITISH COLUMBIA A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (adapted by Jeff Pitcher) Western Canada Theatre Company «1-10 December · 106Victorian Review VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas Vancouver Playhouse· 26 November - 23 December · Directed by Susan Cox, this production is a co-production with Theatre Calgary (so look for it if you're in Alberta) and a re-staging of the "enthusiastic, unapologetic gem of a production" (Toronto Star) originally produced for the Shaw Festival in 1992. NEWYORK: BROADWAY Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen Roundabout Theatre· 23 June - 24 July, 1994 · This production of Ibsen's classic stars Kelly McGillis. Also under consideration for Roundabout's 1994-95 season is a production of Strindberg's Miss Julie starring Natash Richardson and Liam Neeson. Adaptations: Passion Plymouth Theatre· opened 9 May, 1994 · This is a new Stephen Sondheim musical, book and direction by James Lapine, based on an 1869 Italian novel — FOSCA by Igino Tarchetti. It's about a woman's unrequited love for a handsome young army captain. My Fair Lady by Lemer and Loewe Virginia Theatre· currently running · This new production of the musical version of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion is directed by Howard Davies and features Paxton Whitehead in the cast If you happen to be in Utah this...