London, Ontario's, Grand Theatre has announced its season and it emphasizes Canadian content.
There will be a new play by Norm Foster and a couple of shows that are fast becoming Canadian rep theatre classics: the ubiquitous The Stone Angel and Elliot Hayes' Homeward Bound as popular with community theatres as professional companies for its heartwarming, often hilarious, tale about a family whose skeletons just won't stay in the closet.
The 20th anniversary production of Billy Bishop Goes To War with Eric Peterson and John Gray, its original creators and performers reprising their roles, is also a hot ticket across the country this next season.
But it's the McManus Theatre for Young Audiences that is especially exciting: Edward Roy's harrowing and insightful Bang, Boy, Bang! which deals with teenage date rape and violence in relationships, leads off the three-play season in the smaller theatre.
Next is a Green Thumb production from Vancouver, targeted at kindergarten to five years of age. But anyone who has seen Green Thumb productions knows that adults can enjoy them equally. David Holman's Peacemaker explores the themes of peace and tolerance through the Red people and the Blue people, who must learn to live together despite their differences. And also on show is Dennis Foon's New Canadian Kid a lovely piece about the difficulties faced by an immigrant child.
The mainstage season features lots more, including Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest and the musical Cabaret.
Mainstage: Cabaret, September 18 to October 10; Ethan Claymore, October 30 to November 14; The Wind In The Willows, December 4 to 23; The Stone Angel, January 22 to February 6; Homeward Bound, February 21 to March 6; The Importance Of Being Earnest, March 19 to April 3; Billy Bishop Goes To War, April 16 to May 1; I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, June 1 to 26.
McManus Theatre: Bang, Boy, Bang!, November 11 to 20; Peacemaker and New Canadian Kid, March 24 to April 23.
For tickets and information call: 1-519-672-9030. Website: http://www.grandtheatre.com.
By Mira Friedlander
Canada Correspondent
