Shaw Festival season openers

It is that time of year again, when I make myself presentable (well, try to at least...) and head off for some great summer theatre both in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Stratford, as the province's two major summer theatre festivals are now in full swing.  I have been to both festivals already, so let's get started on my annual reviews of offerings at both Shaw and Stratford.  This week a couple of the current offerings at Shaw, and then next week we'll look at the first two offerings I've seen at Stratford.

Once again Shaw Festival Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell has unearthed another forgotten theatrical treasure by Githa Sowerby.  Having previously programmed her somewhat better-known Rutherford and Son and others over the years, people are now at least familiar with the name Githa Sowerby.  This play, A Man and Some Women, dates from 1914 and premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in Manchester in October of that year, but the run was cut short by the First World War.  The play was not produced again, incredibly, until 1996 when it was revived in Bristol.  So this, I believe, is the first fully-mounted production in North America of A Man and Some Women.

This Sowerby gem explores the family dynamic of a man and some women literally thrown together by virtue of birth and of course, social obligation.  We meet the Shannon household on the eve of their mother's death, as the man in question, Richard Shannon, finally has had enough of his two sisters and his wife, all three of whom want nothing from Richard than his hard-earned money.  Concerns over what mother was leaving them in her will were paramount to all three ladies, oblivious to the fact Richard had been dutifully supporting them all these years without obvious complaint.

This Victorian-era potboiler sees the put-upon Richard's anger simmer through the first act, finally exploding in verbal fireworks in the short second act as he decides he has had enough.  The sisters suspect he has been having an affair with Jessica Hendred and try to trap him. all of which sets off the fireworks that follow.  As a result I find the first act rather ponderous before things really get moving, so keep that in mind if you go:  give it a chance to blossom and grow on you which it will.

Director Alisa Palmer directs a fine cast here, with Graeme Somerville superb as Richard; Kate Hennig and Sharry Flett as the two Shannon sisters; and Jenny L. Wright as Richard's wife, Hilda.  Each possesses a sharp tongue and wit, although Sharry seems the somewhat more level-headed of the trio and realizes too late how unfair they have been to Richard.  Did he have an affair?  Well, it turns out Jessica, a somewhat sexy Victorian single woman is indeed the woman he loves, but he was never unfaithful to his wife and two sisters.  But after all cards are on the table and Richard decides to leave, Jessica refuses his offer to join him saying "Don't leave one prison for another."  Some profound thoughts and dialogue in this fine little play.

A Man and Some Women won't be a huge hit this year I suspect, but it will quietly win over more converts to Sowerby's fine craftsmanship throughout the season-long run.  The play runs at the intimate Court House Theatre through to September 22nd and rates a strong 3 out of 4 stars.

One of the bigger shows on the Festival Theatre stage this year is Noel Coward's more or less autobiographical comedy, Present Laughter, which runs through to October 28th.  Directed by David Schurmann, the cast is strong and the set is simply gorgeous.  Still, this will be an acquired taste, as you have to love Coward to appreciate it; otherwise Steven Sutcliffe as Noel Coward, aka Garry Essendine, will become very tiresome very quickly.

The plot, such as it is, centres around Essendine and his glamorous life during the golden age of theatre in the 20th century, when people would fall all over the 'big star' in order not only to further their own careers, but to simply bask in the glow of his popularity.  Coward was nothing if not charming during his life, and that quality shines through in this production as he presents a public persona of a charming bon vivant and in private, has trouble making the hard decisions that simply have to be made.  But then, that's what he has a staff for, right?

Sutcliffe is great as Essendine, although as stated earlier he will wear thin rather quickly if you are not a fan of Coward's charm.  His support is offered primarily by Mary Haney as Monica Reed, his sharp-tongued personal assistant who is always running interference for him.  Haney as always is great, and it is nice to see her in a role that is both funny and classy.  She isn't just another clown here.

Some of the people attempting to hang on his coat-tails for various reasons include Julia Course as Daphne Stillington, who wants help with her career and ultimately wants to help his as well; Jonathan Tan in a hilarious turn as Roland Maule, a writer who should probably give it up; and Moya O'Connell as Joanna Lyppiatt, who vamps her way into Garry's apartment and ultimately into his life as she decides Garry is more fun than her husband.  You get the picture.  Lots of people translating into many compromising situations and they spin out of control as the play goes on.

One other person in the cast is worthy of special mention here, and that is Claire Jullien as Garry's estranged wife, Liz, who exudes class and sexiness in equal measure and proves to be the anchor Garry needs again as he prepares for a major tour of Africa.  So she decides to return to him, further complicating the plot.

Present Laughter is a great ensemble piece and a really enjoyable evening of theatre, provided you know what you are getting yourself into.  It rates a strong 3 out of 4 stars and continues until October 28th.

For tickets to all Shaw performances, call 1-800-511-7429 or go to www.shawfest.com.

June 20th, 2012.