Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Tarragon Theatre is thrilled to announce the world premiere of hotly anticipated play, The Message. The play by Governor General’s Literary Award-winner, Jason Sherman, runs in Tarragon’s Mainspace November 7 - December 16, 2018 (opening November 14).
“Whatcha doin’, Marshall McLuhan?” That’s what the world wanted to know back in the 1960s, when Canada’s internationally renowned professor-turned-prophet started to sound the alarm on the effects of technology on the human body and spirit. But after a lifetime of warning us all about the hazards of modern life, McLuhan suffered a stroke that robbed him of his ability to speak. What it couldn’t do, though, was stop this deeply religious man from trying to finish his magnum opus: a last desperate attempt to save our souls — and his own.
Marshall McLuhan once said, “the medium is the message.” When he coined this phrase in 1964, McLuhan articulated the medium itself, not the content it carries, ought to be the focus of study. In an age where visions of dystopian societies abound and much thought goes into the rippling social implications of the various mediums - technologies - we use to communicate, who would have guessed that half a century letter this thought would still be so profound. In this piece by Bill Glassco Playwright-in-Residence and Governor General’s Literary Award-winner, Jason Sherman, McLuhan’s warnings serve as the root of a cautionary tale for a tech-obsessed age. Remarkably, the play’s inspiration and story is rooted in the foresight of a political figure born over a century ago, to a generation who could only begin to imagine the technological advances and dependence of today.
"As we work on this play with the numerous thoughts of Marshall McLuhan in our investigations, his thinking is like a prophecy of what is currently happening in our electronic age," notes director Richard Rose. "He describes our world (many decades ago) and he challenges our responses to this world with surprising offers of hope, re-thinking what seems to be the chaos of the electronic age, or in his words, the vortex of our times. The play is a medic for survival in this electronic vortex."
The Message features Peter Hutt (Tarragon's The Children’s Republic; Patience, Stratford Festival's The Merchant of Venice), Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster (Crow’s Theatre’s, The Wolves - director, Soulpepper's Incident at Vichy, Canadian Stage's The Flood Thereafter), Patrick McManus (Tarragon's The Realistic Jones, Shaw Festival's Uncle Vanya), Sarah Orenstein (Tarragon's Scorched; Patience, CBC's "Murdoch Mysteries") and R.H. Thomson (Tarragon's No Great Mischief, Necessary Angel's Inexpressible Island, CBC's "Avonlea"). The Message is written by Governor General’s Literary Award-winner Jason Sherman, with direction from Richard Rose.
The Message runs in Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace from November 7 - December 16, opening officially Wednesday, November 14.
The Message (World Premiere)
Mainspace
written by Jason Sherman
directed by Richard Rose
starring Peter Hutt, Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster, Patrick McManus, Sarah Orenstein & R.H. Thomson
November 7 - December 16, 2018 (opening November 14)
A new play from Governor General’s Literary Award winner for Drama.
“Whatcha doin’, Marshall McLuhan?” That’s what the world wanted to know back in the 1960s, when Canada’s internationally renowned professor-turned-prophet started to sound the alarm on the effects of technology on the human body and spirit. But after a lifetime of warning us all about the hazards of modern life, McLuhan suffered a stroke that robbed him of his ability to speak. What it couldn’t do, though, was stop this deeply religious man from trying to finish his magnum opus: a last desperate attempt to save our souls — and his own.
The Message is made possible through the Bill Glassco Playwright-in-Residence Program, generously supported by George Youssef.
Showtimes are Tuesday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30pm, and select Saturdays at 2:30pm.
Tickets range from $22 - $60 and can be purchased online at www.tarragontheatre.com, or by phone at 416-531-1827. Discounts are available for seniors, students and groups and arts workers. Patrons under 35 & arts workers visit www.tarragontheatre.com/tarragon22.
Tarragon offers the most flexible subscription packages in the city with savings of up to 40%, allowing patrons to choose their productions, change their dates free of charge, and offering many different price points to suit all schedules and budgets. Visit the website or call Patron Services today for more information.
Rush tickets are sold for $20 cash only, in person at the theatre two hours before showtime. This year Tarragon will also be offering online rush tickets at varying discounts, 24h prior to the show. Both Rush ticket options are subject to availability.
For more information on Tarragon’s events and activities, visit www.tarragontheatre.com/calendar.
Photo: R.H. Thomson. ©2018 Jim Ryce.
2018-10-24
Toronto: R.H. Thomson stars as Marshall McLuhan in "The Message" November 7 to December 16