Stage Door News
Stage Door News
The Theatre Elusive is proud to present the hit Hollywood satire Matt & Ben at the Annex Theatre Nov 16-26. Matt & Ben is a scorchingly funny peak into one of Hollywood’s most successful power couples, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and the true story of how they “wrote” their award-winning film Good Will Hunting.
As the pair struggle to write a screen adaptation of Catcher in the Rye, a completed script labeled “Good Will Hunting by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck” mysteriously falls from the ceiling into their laps. As they read it, they know it’ll be a hit, but can’t agree on what to do: is it wrong to claim credit for something they know they didn’t earn, or should they accept the strange whim of fate that’s brought them a hit? And will hilarious cameos from “JD Salinger” and “Gwyneth Paltrow” steer them true?
Matt & Ben debuted to rave reviews in New York City in 2003 (“a sharp script…refreshing and delightful” New York Times) and The Theatre Elusive is thrilled to bring the show to Toronto audiences. While it’s a biting satire of two Hollywood stars, it’s also a smartly observed story about the rot that can set into a lifelong friendship when jealousies are left untreated.
In one of the show’s interesting twists, the title roles have always been performed by women. “There’s no real attempt at drag, we’re just Gill and Manda on stage playing men,” says Gillian English, who’s playing Ben. “I think the comedy overrides the gender. It’s the funniest show I’ve ever read and I’m doing it with one of my best friends, who’s an amazing actor and performer.”
English says she’s had fun learning how to be a man. “I like how much space I take up being Ben. The first couple of rehearsals [director] Ryan Singh kept saying uncross your legs, put your feet down, take up more space. It’s fun to slouch a bit. I watched a couple of his movies to get his mannerisms, but mostly I watch the guys I play Aussie rules football with.”
WHERE: The Annex Theatre (730 Bathurst St)
WHEN: Nov 16-26 at 8pm (dark Nov 22); matinee Nov 19 at 3pm
TICKETS: $20/$18 for students; available at the door or online at TOTix.ca
WHO: Writers and Original Performers: Brenda Withers and Mindy Kaling
Director: Ryan Singh
Cast: Gillian English (as Ben) and Manda Whitney (as Matt)
Garett Oliver (stage manager); Randy Lee (lighting designer); Erin Rodgers (associate producer)
MORE INFORMATION: http://www.thetheatreelusive.com
Creator Bios
The Theatre Elusive is a new Toronto company born out of a desire to perform and entertain. Through the generous support of friends, family and colleagues, this company is moving forward at a rapid and ambitious pace, with a full season of three shows planned for 2011-12.
Gillian English (playing Ben Affleck) is the founder and director of The Theatre Elusive. She was trained in Classical Acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic A€rt (LAMDA) and Dalhousie University. She is a former member of the vocal comedy troupe Radio Vault and is currently half of the sketch comedy duo The Young Geologists. Select theatre credits include: Aisling in The Wormwood Prince (Next Stage Theatre); Enobarbus in Antony and Cleopatra (LAMDA); Viola in Twelfth Night (LAMDA); Natasha in Three Sisters (Dal Theatre); Leonata in Much Ado About Nothing (KTS)
Manda Whitney (playing Matt Damon) is a Toronto-based writer and performer and graduate of the University of Guelph BAH Drama program in 2006. Past credits include Little Sally in Urinetown (UC Follies), Em in Ever (Emotive Emu Productions), Mona in Boy Meets Girl (Fly by Night Theatre), Marianne in Tartuffe (Eastside Players) and New Moon in Wonderful (Bench Theatre Initiative).
Ryan Singh (Director) is one of the founders of Fly By Night Theate. He has worked as a community organizer and activist for the past 6 years, and is currently attending George Brown College in the Community Worker program. For Fly By Night Theatre, he has co-directed 7 Stories and Autobahn, directed Daniel MacIvor’s This is a Play, and performed as Roger Nash in Norm Foster’s The Long Weekend. Outside FBN, he has appeared with the Mississauga Players as Lord Fancourt Babberly in Charley’s Aunt and as Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest. Other directing credits include Even Better Living (Bread & Circus Theatre) and Ad: 450 Pilot (U of T Drama Festival) for which he received the Robert Gill Award for Best Director.
2011-10-20
Toronto: Theatre Elusive brings Hollywood satire “Matt & Ben” to Annex Theatre November 16-26