Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (July 1, 2014) — A new production of Bernard Shaw’s The Philanderer, staged with the original third Act, is now in previews at the Festival Theatre. Celebrated American director Lisa Peterson, making her Shaw Festival and Canadian theatre debut, directs this new production that brings out the wicked in Shaw’s wit. Gord Rand as the charismatic Leonard Charteris, Moya O’Connell and Marla McLean as “New Women” Julia Craven and Grace Tranfield, respectively, lead a cast featuring Michael Ball, Jeff Meadows, Ric Reid and Harveen Sandhu.
Shaped by Shaw’s progressive ideals and views, designer Sue LePage, lighting designer Kevin Lamotte and composer and sound designer Mark Bennett create the palatable sense of a changing society that erupts into an avant-garde reality by the last Act.
Inspired by his own love affairs, Shaw’s The Philanderer centres on Leonard Charteris, a leading philosopher of Ibsenism and committed philanderer. A loyal member of the Ibsen Club, where equality of the sexes is celebrated, his dedication to the idea of friendship over marriage dissolves when he proposes to young, self-assured “New Woman” Grace Tranfield. There’s just one obstacle to their happiness, his previous lover Julia Craven, a self-professed “New Woman”, will not give him up. Leonard’s attempts to extricate himself from the love triangle climaxes in a witty and passionate battle between the sexes and generations.
The original third Act of The Philanderer was considered so scandalous, Shaw’s friend Lady Colin Campbell told him to burn the final Act after reading the play. According to one critic, “In short, the reason why Act III was abandoned – was not the unpreparedness of the playwright, but that of the audience.” For the first time, The Philanderer will be staged as Shaw had first intended. The Shaw Festival believes audiences are ready for it.
About The Philanderer
June 26 – October 12; Opening: July 12
The Philanderer will be on stage at the Festival Theatre (10 Queen’s Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake).
The Philanderer is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc. and generously supported by the Gabriel Pascal Memorial Fund.
The Shaw Festival’s 2014 season began April 4 runs until October 26 and features 10 productions presented on the Festival’s four Niagara-on-the-Lake stages. For more information on our 2014 season, performance schedule and ticket information, please visit www.shawfest.com or call 1-800-511-SHAW.
Illustration for The Philanderer. ©2013 Emily Cooper.
2014-07-01
Niagara-on-the-Lake: Shaw Festival's new production of Shaw's "The Philanderer" now in previews