Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON – After igniting audiences in London, Canadian Stage is thrilled to present Lucy Kirkwood’s acclaimed CHIMERICA, directed by the award-winning Christopher Abraham, on stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre March 29– April 17 (Media night: March 31). A co-production between Canadian Stage and the Royal Winnipeg Theatre Centre, the production premiered in Winnipeg on February 25.
A whip-smart analysis of east/west politics in the framework of a sharply-paced thriller, Lucy Kirkwood’s CHIMERICA captivated London audiences garnering five star reviews across the board and was heralded as “the worthiest new play to come along in ages” by Ben Brantley of the New York Times. The jumping off point of the narrative is the real-life photo taken in Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989 by AP photographer Jeff Widener, which quickly became one of the most iconic pieces of photo-journalism in history.
CHIMERICA is a portmanteau coined by Niall Ferguson (in his book “Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World.”) describing the symbiotic relationship between China and the United States, with incidental reference to the legendary chimera.
“We are excited to be co-producing CHIMERICA with the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre,” said Matthew Jocelyn, Artistic and General Director, Canadian Stage. “It is truly emblematic of how theatre can create a vital dialogue about the contemporary world and shine a mirror on it for our consideration, and how two companies can work together to produce a work of such monumental scale. The play is very timely, deliciously sharp-witted, and Chris Abraham's production is riveting, sophisticated, and full of theatrical wizardry of the very best kind.”
As tanks roll through Tiananmen Square, crushing the student movement’s cries for democracy, a young photojournalist from America captures on film a moment of defiance that comes to symbolize the struggle. More than twenty years later, a mysterious note appears in a Beijing newspaper and the now middle-aged journalist is driven to discover the truth about that fateful day, and the secrets that were buried as the world looked on. Lucy Kirkwood’s play examines the changing fortunes of two countries, their tied fates, and the fates of all caught in between.
“Sometimes the most rewarding part of directing a play is the knowledge and insight that you gain through the research you do in preparation to direct it,” comments Abraham. “The swirl of ideas that underpin the text of the play were tremendously exciting to investigate, as were the first hand encounters with individuals that lived through the cultural
revolution. The whole experience of directing this play has been an eye-opening one. It’s been a tremendous pleasure to work with my design team to bring to life the cross-continental landscape of the play.”
CHIMERICA stars Elena Anciro, Evan Buliung, Jasmine Chen, Terru Cherniack, Laura Condlln, Kevin Klassen, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Richard Lee, Doug McKeag, Ross McMillan, Diana Tso, and Norman Yeung.
Director Abraham is joined by set and costume designer Judith Bowden, lighting designer Michael Walton, sound designer Thomas Ryder Payne, and video designer Deco Dawson.
Canadian Stage is partnering with the Journalists for Human Rights to provide ancillary events focused on the role and experiences of photojournalists. For more information on these pre and post-show events, visit www.canadianstage.com/online/chimerica
CHIMERICA will be on stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre, St Lawrence Centre for the Arts (27 Front St. E) from March 29 – April 17 (Media night: March 31). Performances run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 8:00pm, Fridays at 7:00pm, and with matinees on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 1:00 pm beginning April 2. The performance runs approximately 3hrs and 10 minutes with one intermission. Tickets from $24 to $99 are available online, by phone at 416.368.3110, or in person at the Berkeley Street box office. For details visit www.canadianstage.com
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Twitter: @CanadianStage
Twitter Hashtag: #csCHIMERICA
Photo: Detail of Tank Man Photo. ©June 5, 1989, Jeff Widener.
2016-03-04
Toronto: Canadian Stage and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre present "Chimerica"