Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Perennial provocateur Sky Gilbert returns to Buddies in Bad Times Theatre with the gender-bending dramatic comedy A FEW BRITTLE LEAVES, from April 24 – May 5, 2013 (Opening April 25). Veteran actors Edward Roy and Gavin Crawford play a pair of spinster sisters who, through a series of touching and comedic disasters, are forced to deal with the question: “How does one age gracefully?” Tickets are available via the Box Office at 416-975-8555 and online via T.O.Tix.
Inspired by the comedic novels of Barbara Pym, A FEW BRITTLE LEAVES is simple and poignant and peripherally hilarious. Viola and Penelope - two spinster sisters in their 50’s - live together in a fictional suburb of London. Viola is conservative and bookish, while Penelope struggles with the aging process, and whether or not to abandon her quest for a romantic partner...until Rev. Gupta - the new vicar - comes to town. Enter Nora, a visiting young woman with career on her mind. Penelope, newly obsessed with the vicar, imagines herself to be in competition with Nora for his attentions. Even the vicar may not be what others assume him to be...leading to a host of complications, confusions, and personal revelations for all involved. With compassion and comedy A FEW BRITTLE LEAVES offers up the very human problem of aging - and our sometimes sad, sometimes heroic attempts to deal with it.
Gemini & Dora Award winner Gavin Crawford (This Hour has 22 Minutes, The Gavin Crawford Show; The Situationists) and Dora Award winning director/actor/playwright Edward Roy (Buddies In Bad Times’ Agokwe; CW/WB’s Nikita; TNT/Warner’s Witchblade) bring the spinster sisters Viola and Penelope Pie to life with naturalistic comedic grace. Visitor Nora Tweedy is played by newcomer Philippe Van de Maele Martin (Théâtre français de Toronto’s Les Fourberies De Scapin), while Zahir Gilani (Theatre Centre’s Out the Window; Rose Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet; Zazoo Films’ All the Kings Horses) plays the composed Reverend Gupta.
Written and directed by Sky Gilbert (Dancing Queen, The Situationists, Bad Acting Teachers). Set design by Scott Penner (Stratford Festival, Hart House, Classical Theatre Project). Lighting Design by Siobhán Sleath (Stratford Festival, Hart House, Angelwalk Theatre, Optic Heart). Costume design by Sheree Tams (Dancing Queen, The Situationists, Will the Real JT LeRoy Please Stand Up?, Cabaret Company; Slavery, UK National Tour, Tara Arts).
The Cabaret Company was founded in 1997 after Sky Gilbert stepped down after 18 years as Founding Artistic Director of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. The Cabaret Company has received a total of nineteen Dora Nominations and encourages the work and development of queer theatrical newcomers. Artistic Director Sky Gilbert is a writer, director, professor and drag queen extraordinaire. Most recently, his play The Situationists won the 2011 Dora for Outstanding New Play.
Show information for A FEW BRITTLE LEAVES:
Venue:
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (The Chamber)
12 Alexander Street, Toronto
Dates:
April 24 – May 5, 2013 (Previews April 24, Opens April 25)
Wednesday – Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
Tickets:
Preview (Wed April 24): $20. Opening (Thurs April 25): by invitation only.
Wed-Thurs: $25 Fri-Sat: $30 Sun: $20
Via the Box Office at 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimes.com/tickets or T.O.Tix
Photo: Gavin Crawford and Edward Roy. ©2013 Tanja-Tiziana.
2013-04-04
Toronto: The Cabaret Company presents the world premiere of “A Few Brittle Leaves” April 24-May 5