Sat 4/6-Sat 12/22
It’s still cold and snowing, especially in the eastern provinces of our neighbors to the north, but things are heating up in Niagara-on-the-Lake, home of Canada’s Shaw Festival. It’s getting closer to “curtain up, light the lights at Shaw Festival 2019.
Many Clevelanders take the four-hour drive up to “The Shaw,” as it is called by locals, just to participate in theater. Others tour the “most beautiful little city in Canada,” eat at the many restaurants and go shopping for Canadian goods. Some take a side trip to Niagara Falls to see the world’s water wonder or to gamble. Other go to shoot-the-rapids on the Niagara River. Some go for a round or two of golf. Whatever, The Shaw is a wonderful spring, summer or fall adventure.
It’s a good idea to make both theater and lodging reservations early, especially on weekends. Our home away from home is the beautiful and well-placed Wellington House, directly across the street from the Festival Theatre, where Karen, with her fabulous breakfasts and immaculate rooms, holds forth. For information on other B&Bs go to niagaraonthelake.com/showbedandbreakfasts.
There are some fine restaurants. My in-town favorites are the Grill on King Street (905-468-7222, 233 King Street), Ginger Restaurant (905-468-3871, 390 Mary Street) and Niagara’s Finest Thai (905-468-1224), 88 Picton Street, with Old Winery, (2228 Niagara Stone Road/905-468-8900), a worthwhile ten-minute ride from downtown.
Tim Carroll says of varied play choices in this, his third season as the Shaw’s artistic director, “I could afford to be bold in my [play] choices, because of the incredible ensemble there.”
The season, which opens on April 6 and runs through December 22, has audiences experiencing musicals, passion, crime, laughter, pure escapism, and romance.
Here are his 2019 theater offerings:
THE HORSE AND HIS BOY—C. S. Lewis’s family friendly tale of four runaways — a boy, a girl and their horses, who are called upon to rescue Narnia. (Recommendation: Strongly consider a pre-show workshop that is filled with an exposition of the magic that happens on the stage. A great fun and educational delight for adults and children. 4/6-7/21.
BRIGADOON—Lerner and Loewe’s charming musical, which contains such songs as “Almost Like Being in Love” and “I’ll Go Home with Bonnie Jean” asks, “What would you give up for love?” 5/5-10/13.
THE LADYKILLERS—Based on the beloved Alex Guinness film, this comedy is set in post-World War II London where five oddball crooks find out how hard it is to kill a little old lady who is getting in the way of their heist. 6/11-10/12.
MAN AND SUPERMAN WITH DON JUAN IN HELL—G.B. Shaw’s script which states, “There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it.” Only 17 performances. 8/27-10/5.
ROPE—A gripping psychological thriller about two friends who commit a murder and host a party for the victim’s friends with his hidden body as the center piece. 4/12-10/12.
GETTING MARRIED—Shaw’s witty comedy which claims, “Married people should take holidays from one another if they are to keep at all fresh.” 5/10-10/13.
THE RUSSIAN PLAY (lunchtime one-act)—A small-town flower girl falls for a gravedigger in Stalinist Russia. What can go wrong? About everything! (mature content) 6/8-10/12.
CYRANO de BERGERAC—The tale of Rostand’s swashbuckling 17 th century swordsman who can do anything — except tell the woman he loves, how he feels. 7/27-10/20
THE GLASS MENAGERIE—Tennessee Williams’ classic autobiographical play which asks if we can ever truly escape the life we have been given. 5/22-10/12.
SEX—Margy LaMont, a quick-witted prostitute in Roaring Twenties Montreal, is looking for a better life. This comedy drama got its author locked up for “corrupting the morals of youth.” 6/21-10/13.
VICTORY—A controversial play set in the aftermath of Charles II’s Restoration on the thrown of England. The play may enrage you, but it won’t leave you! (Warning: “VICTORY is deliberately offensive. It is not for the squeamish as it contains very strong language.”) 7/14-10/12.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL—Ebenezer Scrooge is back. ”Bah, humbug!” 11/13-12/22.
IRVING BERLIN’S HOLIDAY INN—Fun loving, tap-dancing, romantic comedy with such classic songs as “Cheek to Cheek,” “Easter Parade” and “White Christmas.” 11/16-12/22.
For theater information, a brochure or tickets, call 800-511-7429 or go on-line to shawfest.com. Ask about packages that include lodging, meals and tickets. Also be aware that the festival offers day-of-the-show rush tickets and senior matinee prices.
The Shaw’s social consciousness is clearly stated in their statement: “We acknowledge and honour the land upon which we gather as the historic and traditional territory of First Nations peoples. In particular we recognize and thank the Neutral Nation, the Mississauga and the Haudenosaunee for their stewardship of these lands over the millennia.”
Don’t forget your passport as it’s the only form of identification that will be accepted for re-entry into the U.S.
[Written by Roy Berko: member, Cleveland Critics Circle, American Theatre Critics Association]
ON, Canada