Fringe News
Fringe News
At SummerWorks 2013:
In a clamour of words, three aging cleaning ladies attempt to release themselves from their banal existence: exposing the filth that lies beneath the surface of social convention, and conjuring up fantasies of liver sausage butchers, tuba toting lotharios and divinely clogged toilets . . . but to what end?
Divine Bovine presents Holy Mothers, directed by Elizabeth Saunders (Stop Heart, Factory Theatre, The Vibrator Play, Tarragon) and starring Astrid Van Wieren (This Wide Night, Mermaid Prod. – Dora Award best actress), Vickie Papavs (God of Carnage, MTC/Theatre Calgary, Calendar Girls, The Grand) & Lorna Wilson (Sparta, Theatre Passe Muraille). It runs from August 8th -18th for the SummerWorks Festival at The Factory Theatre in Toronto.
Holy Mothers, is Meredith Oakes’ translation of celebrated Austrian playwright Werner Schwab’s brutally black comedy Die Präsidentinnen. Referred to as “an oblique cry, lunacy and a literary work of art” Die Prasidentinnen was originally written as a humorous but excoriating critique of contemporary Austrian society, but its themes are universal. In it Schwab takes his knife and exposes the ridiculous nature of an impotent society garbed in a fabric woven from threads of bigotry, judgment, victimization, denial and polite control.
VENUE
Factory Theatre Mainspace
SCHEDULE
Friday August 9, 12:30 pm
Saturday August 10, 3:00 pm
Monday August 12, 12:30 pm
Tuesday August 13, 5:30 pm
Thursday August 15, 8:00 pm
Friday August 16, 5:30 pm
Saturday August 17, 3:00 pm
Holy Mothers is directed by Elizabeth Saunders in her professional directing debut. Elizabeth is a veteran actress of theatre, film and television. Liz recently turned her hand to directing and most recently assisted on Soulpepper’s Speed the Plow and Young People’s Theatre’s Beyond the Cuckoos Nest. As an Actress she was last seen in Toronto in Stop Heart (Factory Theatre), In the Next room or The Vibrator Play (Tarragon Theatre.) Elizabeth has performed in theatre’s through out Canada, including 4 seasons at the Shaw Festival, and was last seen at Summerworks in The Particulars and in General, as well as the highly successful Canadian premiere of Sarah Kane’s 4:48 Psychosis. Recent Film and TV work includes: Orphan Black, Saving Hope, and Murdoch Mysteries.
The amazing veteran ensemble of actresses that make up the Holy Mothers cast includes Vickie Papavs who stars as Mariedl, the savior of clogged toilets. Vickie most recently appeared in Calendar Girls (The Grand Theatre), God of Carnage (MTC, Vancouver Playhouse,) One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Theatre Calgary). Her recent film and TV credits include, Flashpoint and Murdoch Mysteries.
Astrid Van Wieren stars as Greta the divorcee pensioner who seeks a little fun and relaxation. Astrid is a Best Actress Dora award winner for her performance in This Wide Night (Mermaid Productions). She was also recently seen in Mirvish Productions’, My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, and in the title role of The Drowsy Chaperone (STC). Her recent film and TV credits include King, and Foxfire.
Rounding out the Holy Mothers is Lorna Wilson as old Age pensioner and penny-pinching queen, Erna. Lorna’s recently appeared in Mrs. Dexter and her Daily (Globe Theatre), Sparta (Theatre Passe Muraille) and Other Places (Actors Rep Company). Her recent film and TV credits include Warehouse 13, Grey Gardens and She’s the Mayor.
Completing the cast are newcomers Anja Bundy, Tara Renwick and Bridget Saunders. Each of these young ladies have grown up as children of the theatre, and all join parents who are participating in shows at The SummerWorks Festival this year.
SummerWorks August 8-18, 2013
SummerWorks Box Office Information: On-line sales http://summerworks.ca
By phone: 416-915-6747; Ticket cost: $15.00 (at the door); $15.00 + fees (in advance)
Photo: Lorna Wilson, Astrid Van Wieren and Vickie Papavs. ©2013 Divine Bovine.
2013-07-24
Holy Mothers