Stage Door News
Stage Door News
In honour of Factory Theatre’s 45th anniversary season and their own 35th year, Theatre Smith-Gilmour is proud to remount their multiple-Dora-nominated, critically acclaimed and personal favourite production, As I Lay Dying, under its new title, TAKE ME BACK TO JEFFERSON. Last year’s hit show returns Nov 5 - 23 at the Factory Theatre Mainstage before it journeys to the National Arts Centre Mainstage in March. Tickets available by phone at (416) 504-9971, online at www.factorytheatre.ca, or in person at the box office.
This remount offers a second chance to experience what The Toronto Star calls “The future of theatre in this town” – an impressive accolade given Theatre Smith-Gilmour’s role in creating the foundation of theatre in this town. Factory Theatre’s co-Artistic Director Nina Lee Aquino adds, “Over the years, Factory has had a rich and fruitful partnership with Theatre Smith-Gilmour. We are thrilled to have them part of our season and back in our house with this powerful masterpiece."
“A WONDERFUL AND VIVID translation of William
Faulkner's As I Lay Dying. You will swear you have
seen live horses and rivers in flood and barns on fire
as well as the strangest and most heartbreaking family”
– Michael Ondaatje
William Faulkner’s American gothic As I Lay Dying has been considered a classic since it was published in 1930. Its overt social commentary and unflinching views of family structure, abortion, and God have made it controversial to the point of being banned. This compliments Theatre Smith-Gilmour’s dedication to presenting “unsentimental theatre” – a performance quality and subject matter that has made the company a fixture of Toronto’s theatre scene for three decades.
“TAKE ME BACK TO JEFFERSON is a culmination of everything we have learned since we've started,” says Dean Gilmour. “In our theatre culture in Toronto it is rare to reinvest in a previous show but there is something very enriching about remounting one. We are able to go deeper, furthering our understanding of the play’s world.” Multi Dora Award-winner Michele Smith adds “We wanted to change the title to reflect the fact that we have created an adaptation that is uniquely ours.”
Once again Smith (Chekhov’s shorts, Chekhov longs; Lu Xun blossoms; SPENT; Ralph and Lina; Death Married My Daughter) will lead the ensemble on their journey to Jefferson as both co-director and dying matriarch Addie Bundren whose request to be laid to rest in her home town propels the play. Co-director Dean Gilmour (Chekhov’s shorts, Chekhov longs; Lu Xun blossoms; SPENT; Death Married My Daughter) along with performers Nina Gilmour (Dora Nominated Tale of a T-Shirt, Fixt Point; Death Married My Daughter, Play It Again Productions; Romeo and Juliet, Theatre Links), Ben Muir (Storming Juno, The History Channel; Grimm, Theatre Smith-Gilmour), Daniel Roberts (Unnecessary Farce, Stage West; Miracle on 34th Street, TNB), Dan Watson (Multi-Dora Nominated Ralph + Lina & A Fool’s Life, Ahuri Theatre), and Julian De Zotti (Dora-Nominated A Fool’s Life; Fortune And Men's Eyes, Birdland Theatre) return to fill out the family.
Set and costume design by Dora-award winner Teresa Przybylski (Stratford, Shaw, COC, Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre). Lighting design by Dora-award winner Andre du Toit (The Double, Bad New Days; SPENT; A Fool’s Life, Ahuri Theatre). Stage managed by Heather Thompson (SPENT, TSG/Why Not Theatre/TheatreRUN; Blyth Festival, Shaw Festival).
Theatre Smith-Gilmour’s work is meant for the eyes as much as it is for the ears. It is not “mime"; it is not a “style”. Theatre Smith-Gilmour’s work is a minute observation of the rawness of life; it is the observation of the raw impulses and emotions mobilized by the actors as they "move the words” of the great writers, on a stage. Smith and Gilmour create a theatre of images and actions inspired by their vision of the chaotic rawness of life.
Their highly esteemed, Dora-Award body of work is known for its compassionate vision of the human condition. They have created 40 shows, 21 of which are original plays, toured across Canada several times and to 14 countries around the world, and were invited to perform their critically-acclaimed Chekhov Shorts at the Chekhov International Theatre Festival in Moscow.
Performance information for TAKE ME BACK TO JEFFERSON
Venue: Factory Theatre Mainstage (125 Bathurst Street at Adelaide)
Dates: November 6 – 23, 2014 (Preview Nov. 5th)
Tuesday – Saturday @ 8:00pm, Sunday matinees @ 2pm
Tickets: Preview $23, Tues-Fri $35, Sat. $45, Sun $40 (advanced)
Student, Senior, & Arts Worker discounts available.
Available by phone at (416) 504-9971, online at www.factorytheatre.ca,
or in person at the box office.
Run time: 140 minutes, 1 intermission
2014-10-09
Toronto: Theatre Smith-Gilmour remounts its adaptation of Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying"