Toronto's Tarragon Theatre Has Four World Premieres, Plus Private Jokes, Public Places in 2004-05

Toronto's Tarragon Theatre Has Four World Premieres, Plus Private Jokes, Public Places in 2004-05

News Toronto's Tarragon Theatre Has Four World Premieres, Plus Private Jokes, Public Places in 2004-05

By Kenneth Jones

Apr 05, 2004

Tarragon Theatre, Toronto's Off-Broadway-style company committed to new works, presents the world premieres of four new plays, a return of a favorite, plus one Canadian and one Toronto premiere in 2004-05.

In addition to the Toronto premiere of Yasmina Reza's The Unexpected Man (Oct. 5-Nov. 7 in the Extra Space) and the Canadian debut of Private Jokes, Public Places by Oren Safdie (directed by Alisa Palmer in the Mainspace Sept. 14-Oct. 24), Tarragon invites back Helen's Necklace by Carole Fréchette, in an English version by John Murrell (in the Extra Space Nov. 16-Dec. 12) starring Susan Coyne and Sanjay Talwar.

Bea's Niece by David Gow makes its Toronto premiere Dec. 28, 2004-Feb. 6, 2005, in the Mainspace. In it, "Anne, a novelist, must choose between the truth and her own perceptions of reality in order to survive mental illness. She finds safety and comfort in visits from others, including her Aunt Bea, who provides practical and hilarious advice." From the writer of Cherry Docs "comes this comic, psychological and spiritual mystery."

The world premieres include:

No Great Mischief by David Young, adapted from the novel by Alistair MacLeod, directed by Richard Rose in association with Mirvish Productions, in the Mainspace Nov. 3-Dec. 12. "The long history of the Clan MacDonald begins in 1779 as Calum Ruadh leaves Scotland to begin a new life on Cape Breton Island. Haunted by the stories and songs of their ancestry, two brothers seek to reconcile their past with their present." From the writer of Glenn and Inexpressible Island.

Half Life by John Mighton, directed by Daniel Brooks co-produced by Necessary Angel Theatre Company, in the Mainspace Feb. 22, 2005-April 3, 2005. "Two nursing home residents rekindle what might have been a wartime romance. The award-winning team behind Possible Worlds brings us this poetic and moving meditation on identity, aging and the nature of memory. What shines through when memory fades away?"

Fishwrap by David Macfarlane, directed by Andy McKim, in the Extra Space March 22-May 1, 2005. "There is no lonelier soul than a freelance writer who discovers, belatedly, that he is no longer wanted by the magazines and the newspapers by which he has eked out his living. Angry, funny and cruelly accurate, the play asks the question: how can a man make sense of a life that has never been anything more than yesterday's paper?"

Alice's Affair by Susan Coyne, directed by Eda Holmes, in the Mainspace April 19-May 29. "A group of old friends retreat to a cottage after the funeral of a revered university professor. Awash in a sea of longings – for love, for meaningful work and for escape from their lives – they find themselves on the verge of either giving up their youthful ideals or reinventing themselves." A new play by the author of Kingfisher Days. For information about Tarragon Theatre, call (416) 531-1827 or visit www.tarragontheatre.com.

Toronto's Tarragon Theatre Has Four World Premieres, Plus Private Jokes, Public Places in 2004-05

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