Stage Door News
Stage Door News
TORONTO (November 26, 2015) - Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of Within the Glass by Tarragon Playwright-in-Residence, performer and librettist Anna Chatterton in her debut work for the company. Directed by Tarragon's Assistant Artistic Director Andrea Donaldson (Stratford Festival's 2013 Jean Gascon Award), Within the Glass examines the complexities of reproductive science and the lengths one will go to have a child. With a powerhouse cast of Paul Braunstein, Nicola Correia-Damude, Philippa Domville and Rick Roberts, this timely comedic drama - inspired by a true story - previews from January 6, opens January 13 and runs to February 14 in Tarragon's Mainspace.
Two very different couples meet after a critical mistake at a fertility clinic. A fertilized egg has been implanted into the wrong woman. Over the course of an absurd evening, they fight to determine the uncertain future of their IVF child. This extraordinary pregnancy forces each of them to reassess their relationships, the depths of their desire to parent, and their hopes for the future - asking each person what they are willing to give up in the pursuit of a child.
Philippa Domville and Rick Roberts are Darah and Michael. Both were seen on the Tarragon stage this past fall: Domville in a daring role in The Trouble with Mr. Adams and Roberts, returning to the smash hit An Enemy of the People for its remount.
Paul Braunstein and Nicola Correia-Damude, whose credits include the Shaw and Stratford Festivals, are Scott and Linda, 19-weeks pregnant. While Correia-Damude makes her Tarragon debut, Braunstein returns to Tarragon after starring in the Tarragon-Volcano Theatre co-production of Infinity by Hannah Moscovitch which won the 2015 Dora Award for Outstanding New Play.
Anna Chatterton recently wrote and performed her solo play Quiver at Theatre Aquarius in her hometown of Hamilton, directed by Andrea Donaldson who helmed Soliciting Temptation in Tarragon's 2013-2014 season and was Assistant Director to Richard Rose in Tarragon's Flesh and Other Fragments of Love and Assistant Director to Chris Abraham's Othello and The Matchmaker at Stratford.
Chatterton writes and performs with her acclaimed feminist theatre collective Independent Aunties (with Evalyn Parry and Karin Randoja). The Aunties have created six shows together, produced by Theatre Passe Muraille, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and the Theatre Centre. The Aunties are currently a company-in-residence at Buddies; their latest play, Gertrude and Alice, will be presented this coming March. As a librettist, her opera Stitch for the Theatre Centre was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Opera. Tapestry Opera is presenting her Rocking Horse Winner in the spring.
Says Chatterton, "Though the law in Ontario asserts that the fetus belongs to the genetic parents, my play still begs the question, whose child is it? What makes a mother, what makes a parent? So many couples struggle with infertility, this nightmarish dilemma is an example of what modern day science has given us."
The set and costume designer is Julie Fox, lighting designer is Rebecca Picherack and sound designer is Mike Rinaldi. The stage manager is Natasha Bean-Smith.
Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of
Within the Glass
Written by Anna Chatterton
Directed by Andrea Donaldson
Starring Paul Braunstein, Nicola Correia-Damude, Philippa Domville, Rick Roberts
Set and Costume Design by Julie Fox
Lighting Design by Rebecca Picherack
Sound Design by Mike Rinaldi
Opens January 13 and runs to February 14, 2016 (Previews from January 6)
Tarragon Theatre's Mainspace, 30 Bridgman Avenue, Toronto, M5R 1X3
Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm; Sunday at 2:30pm; select Saturdays January 16, 23, 30 at 2:30pm;
Tickets can be purchased by calling Tarragon Patron Services at 416.531.1827 or by visiting www.tarragontheatre.com
Regular Tickets range from $28-$60 with discounts for seniors, students, groups and artsworkers.
Rush Tickets: For every performance excluding opening night, specially priced $15 Rush Tickets will be sold (subject to availability) in person at the Box Office two hours before show time.
Follow Tarragon on Twitter @TarragonTheatre for updates on rush ticket availability and special ticket offers.
Illustration: Nicole Correia-Damude.
2015-11-26
Toronto: Tarragon Theatre presents "Within the Glass" by Anna Chatterton January 13-February 14, 2016