Stage Door News
Stage Door News
TORONTO, April 11, 2014 - Tarragon Theatre's hit show Lungs by the award-winning British playwright Duncan Macmillan, directed by Weyni Mengesha and starring Brendan Gall and Lesley Faulkner, received nothing but raves during its five week run in Tarragon's Extraspace.
Tarragon's Artistic Director Richard Rose announced that, due to popular demand, the theatre will bring back the crowd-pleasing, critically acclaimed production next season when it will run December 31, 2014-January 25, 2015 in Tarragon's Extraspace. Tickets for the remount of this startlingly raw love story are on sale now and range from $31-$50 (inclusive of HST) and are available by calling Patron Services at 416.531.1827 or by visiting www.tarragontheatre.com.
In announcing the news, Rose noted: "When a play like Lungs comes along that speaks to and resonates with so many people and garners such an astounding reaction from audiences, it is both an honour and a pleasure to remount it for an even wider audience."
A bare stage, a man, a woman, a conversation and - infinite possibility. Lungs gives us a no-holds-barred look at a lifetime of love in a time of global anxiety and political unrest. Of the Tarragon production, Toronto critics opined:
"exhilarating to watch, requiring a constantly engaged level of performance that is near-Olympian. Both actors rise to (the) challenge... the pacing and tone is perfectly pitched throughout. Indeed, the play is so well-directed, you won't even think it has been directed."
- Kelly Nestruck, The Globe and Mail
"a beautifully crafted love story that is not only intensely personal but also poignantly universal... The pace and pitch are perfection... It's brilliant, Dora-worthy work... Lungs has heart. And it never misses a beat."
- Robert Crew, Toronto Star
"a terrific evening: a script crammed with wit and surprise, delivered here by performers whose own lungs, not to mention their hearts and brains, are up to the fearsome demands made upon them... I was in tears."
- Robert Cushman, National Post
Duncan Macmillan is an award-winning British writer and director whose work has been produced in the U.K. and abroad to critical acclaim. Lungs was first produced in a rolling world premiere with Studio Theatre, Washington DC and the Paines Plough/Sheffield Theatres (U.K.) in 2011 and subsequently presented by the National Theatre in 2012 in London where it won Best New Play at the Offies. He is currently writing new plays for the National Theatre, Paines Plough and BBC Radio. His co-adaptation of George Orwell's 1984 with Rob Icke for Headlong/Nottingham Playhouse just concluded a UK tour and will produced at the Almeida Theatre this Spring.
Award-winning director and dramaturge Weyni Mengesha started her career directing trey anthony's da Kink in my hair across North America and in London; and composing its Dora-nominated score. She directed Kim's Convenience for Soulpepper which has since gone on to play across Canada and is in negotiations to tour internationally. For Tarragon, she directed The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs which won her a 2012 Toronto Critics Award for Best Director.
Set and costume design is by Ken Mackenzie, lighting design by Kimberly Purtell and sound design by Thomas Ryder Payne.
Tarragon Theatre proudly presents the Toronto premiere of
Lungs
By Duncan Macmillan
Directed by Weyni Mengesha
Starring Brendan Gall and Lesley Faulkner
Set and Costume Design by Ken Mackenzie
Lighting Design by Kimberly Purtell
Sound Design by Thomas Ryder Payne
REMOUNT: December 31, 2014-Janaury 25, 2015 - Tickets $31-$50.
Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
(As per Tarragon's new Cheap Seats policy for its 2014-15 season,
10% of every show will be held for $15 in person, day of sales - on sale 6pm, 1pm for matinees.)
Tarragon Theatre's Extraspace, 30 Bridgman Avenue, Toronto
For tickets, call Patron Services at 416.531.1827 or visit www.tarragontheatre.com
Photo: Lesley Faulkner and Brendan Gall. © 2014 Cylla von Tiedemann.
2014-04-11
Toronto: Tarragon Theatre announces the return of "Lungs" December 31, 2014-January 25, 2015