One of this season's most anticipated openings is the world premiere of Tom Wood's new play, Claptrap. Wood is author of the wild and zany B-Movie, The Play, which was hugely successful and toured to the United States.

Claptrap's official opening is at Ottawa's National Arts Centre on February 5, where it will have a three-week run. Torontonians will see it at Canadian Stage Company in April.

The cast alone is worth the trip to the theatre. There's Vancouver's Nicola Cavendish (Shirley Valentine and CBC's Sleeproom), as well as Stratford Festival's Lucy Peacock, Lorne Kennedy and Janet Wright. The list of A-list performers continues with Wood himself and Roger Honeywell, who made a huge splash as Martin Guerre in Leslie Arden's superb musical of the same name.

The Shaw Festival's Kevin Lamotte handles lighting, prominent theatrical composer Don Horsburgh created the music, Stratford's John Stead handles the fights and CanStage artistic director Bob Baker is directing.

The story takes place at the Ibsen Summer Festival in picturesque Oslo, Ontario, where season lineup includes a Greek tragedy, a Restoration drama, a lavish costume operetta, an Italian farce and a gloomy Canadian classic. Guided by maniacal Artistic Director Antony Manley-Dunn, a motley company of actors searches for artistic meaning, love and the next paying job. Claptrap opens at the NAC on February 5 and at Canadian Stage Company on April 9. For tickets call: NAC: 613-755-1111. Canadian Stage Company: 416-368-3110.

By Mira Friedlander
Canada Correspondent