Stage Door News
Stage Door News
May 13, 2014... After her gripping portrayal of Elizabeth I in last season’s sold-out production of Mary Stuart, Seana McKenna returns to play the title role in Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children. This production is directed by one of the Festival’s most celebrated artists, Martha Henry, returning for a remarkable 40th Festival season. Previews begin Thursday, May 15, at Stratford's Tom Patterson Theatre.
An iconic figure, Mother Courage is unquestionably one of the greatest female roles in the western dramatic canon.
“We see this huge journey that this phenomenal woman takes,” says Ms. Henry: “a woman of astonishing intelligence, with a bitter, biting tongue, and great humour, and great humanity. She’s an astounding figure. One does not do this play unless there is an actor capable of playing Mother Courage in the company – and we have Seana McKenna.”
Ms. McKenna will be joined in this production by two other exceptional performers: Geraint Wyn Davies as the Cook and Ben Carlson as the Chaplain.
Considered one of the greatest plays of the 20th century, Mother Courage and Her Children was written in 1939 as a response to the Nazi invasion of Poland. Set in 17th century Europe and spanning 12 years, the story follows Mother Courage as she struggles to make a living and to protect her three children during the Thirty Years’ War. Her pursuit of profit from the very war that robs her of everyone she loves and almost everything she owns makes for a brilliant exploration of this season’s theme of Madness: Minds Pushed to the Edge.
“In programming the Tom Patterson Theatre this season, I selected three plays that explore various drivers that push the protagonists to extraordinary places,” says Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. “Alongside the poignant tales of political ambition in King John and obsessive desire in Antony and Cleopatra, Mother Courage and Her Children explores the need to survive in extreme circumstances and what that does to human nature. It’s a very powerful play – a rich mixture of politics, satire and music. I’m thrilled to celebrate Martha’s momentous 40th season with this production. I know it will be an unforgettable theatrical experience for all.”
This production is the world première of a new translation by British playwright David Edgar.
Artistic credits include Designer John Pennoyer, Lighting Designer Itai Erdal, Composer Keith Thomas, Musical Director Laura Burton, Sound Designer Todd Charlton, Movement Director Shona Morris and Fight Director John Stead.
Mother Courage and Her Children Forum Highlights
The Stratford Festival Forum is a series of activities and events, including concerts, debates, talks, comedy and interactive presentations, that offer theatregoers a unique opportunity to delve further into the ideas and issues raised by the 2014 playbill and its theme of Madness: Minds Pushed to the Edge.
Themes related to Mother Courage and Her Children will be explored through several Forum events, including: Madness and the Prolonged War, in which Paul Kennedy, host of CBC Radio’s Ideas, moderates a conversation between retired general John de Chastelain, professor Nicholas Terpstra, Martha Henry and Seana McKenna regarding the mental impact of protracted wars on soldiers and civilians by examining the Thirty Years’ War, World War I and more contemporary conflicts; The Productivity of War, in which psychiatrist Jordan Peterson of TVO’s Big Ideas discusses the human thirst for war; and And Her Children, in which Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, founder of Daughters for Life Foundation, Canadian senator and retired general Roméo Dellaire, and Samantha Nutt, founder of War Child Canada, come together to discuss the living legacies of war, moderated by CBC Radio producer and documentary maker Karin Wells.
Sustaining support for the Forum is generously provided by Kelly & Michael Meighen and the T.R. Meighen Foundation. Support for the 2014 Forum is generously provided by Nandita & Julian Wise. Selected Forum events supported by Bell Let’s Talk. Support for Peer Into the Playbill is provided in memory of Dr. W. Philip Hayman.
Mother Courage and Her Children opens on Friday, May 30, and runs until September 21. For tickets, contact the box office 1.800.567.1600 or visit stratfordfestival.ca
The production is co-sponsored by Sylvanacre Properties Ltd.
Production support is generously provided by The Harkins family in memory of Jim & Susan Harkins, and by Alice & Tim Thornton and by Jack Whiteside.
Support for the 2014 season of the Tom Patterson Theatre is generously provided by Richard Rooney and Laura Dinner.
Stratford Direct, the daily return private bus service, now offers two routes: Toronto to Stratford and Detroit to Stratford. The Toronto bus costs $20 round trip, departing once daily from May 3 to 24 and September 23 to October 12, and twice daily between May 26 and September 21. The Detroit bus costs $40 round trip, with Tuesday, Friday and Saturday departures from June 3 to September 28. Both routes run on performance days only.
The Stratford Direct Presenting Sponsor is OLG. Support for Stratford Direct is generously provided by The Peter Cundill Foundation.
The 2014 season runs from April 21 to October 12, featuring King Lear; Crazy for You; two versions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream; The Beaux’ Stratagem; Man of La Mancha; Alice Through the Looking-Glass; Hay Fever; King John; Mother Courage and Her Children; Antony and Cleopatra; Christina, The Girl King; and more than 200 events in The Forum.
Photo: Seana McKenna. ©2013 Don Dixon.
2014-05-13
Stratford: Seana McKenna stars in "Mother Courage and Her Children" beginning previews May 15