[NEohioPAL] Berko preview: SHAW FESTIVAL, CANADA

Roy Berko royberko at yahoo.com
Wed Mar 9 15:17:10 PST 2011


It's the time of year to start thinking…..THE SHAW FESTIVAL

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
LORAIN COUNTY TIMES--WESTLAKER TIMES--LAKEWOOD NEWS TIMES--OLMSTED-FAIRVIEW 
TIMES

--COOLCLEVELAND.COM-

The brochure has arrived.  The season is set.  It's time to start thinking about 
spending some time this spring, summer or fall at the SHAW FESTIVAL.

The Shaw Festival is conducted in four theatres in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, 
Canada, an easy four-hour trip from Cleveland.  Once you arrive, you will be 
entranced by the “most beautiful city in Canada.”  Lovely flowers, classical 
home architecture and unusual shops make for an inviting experience.

This season's theatre offerings are: MY FAIR LADY (“The difference between a 
lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves but how she is treated”)…Lerner 
and Loewe's enchanting “I could have danced all night” musical; THE ADMIRABLE 
CRICHTON (“There must always, my lady be one to command and others to obey”)…J. 
M. Barrie's delightful subversive comic fantasy; DRAMA AT INISH-A COMEDY (“We 
were all more or less happy and comfortable, good tempered and jolly-until these 
plays began to put ideas into our heads”)-Lennox Robinson's Irish comedy gem; ON 
THE ROCKS (“So much for the carrot, here comes the stick”)…G. B. Shaw's 
provocative tale about whether the prime minister has lost his sanity; MARIA 
SEVERA (“I am flesh and blood, I am heart and mind, and I am song”) Jay Turvey 
and Paul Sportelli's romantic musical; CANDIDA (“We all go about longing for 
love; it is the first need of our natures, the loudest cry of our hearts.”)…GB 
Shaw's charming comedy about the classic love triangle;  CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF 
(“What is the victory of the cat on a hot tine roof?   Just staying on it, I 
guess, as long as she can”)…Tennessee Williams' sultry Pulitzer Prize winning 
play about respect, sex and maybe, somewhere, love; THE PRESIDENT (“It must be 
very wonderful, sir, to have almost all mankind at your disposal.”)…a return 
engagement of Ferenc Molnar's fast-paced comedy which was a 2008 Festival smash 
hit; TOPDOG/UNDERDOG (“You pick that card that's the loser, you pick that card 
you pick a winner, follow that card, and you gotta chase that card”)…Suzan-Lori 
Parks harsh and humane tale of Lincoln and Booth, two brothers who fight for 
survival after being abandoned by their parents; WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING 
(“The past is a mystery, and yet, perhaps it will be easier to explain than the 
fish.”)…Australian Andrew Bovell's tale of a father who gets an unexpected phone 
call from his long lost son just as a fish falls from the sky.

Besides the plays themselves, the Festival includes a play reading series, 
pre-cast chats, Tuesday Q&A, Saturday conversations, Sunday coffee concerts and 
backstage tours.  Also check out the Shaw Workshops for Adults and the Teen 
Workshops.  On July 23 and 24, join a debate and discussion of provocative ideas 
with Tony Kushner (ANGELS IN AMERICA), Michael Billington, the theatre critic of 
The Guardian, and Suzan-Lori Parks (TOPDOG/UNDERDOG).

The area itself is filled with activities ranging from a golf course within the 
city limits; an art park (www.artpark.net), The Good Earth Cooking School 
(www.goodearthcooking.com), an international chamber music festival 
(www.niagramusicfest.com), learning vacations at Niagara College 
(www.niagaralearning vacations.com), bike paths, Mystery on the Lake 
(www.motl.ca), and a Niagara river jet boat trip. 

The Niagara area is dotted with wineries, many of which, besides offering wine 
tastings and sales, have fine dining facilities. 

There are some wonderful restaurants including Queenston Heights Restaurant 
(www.queenstonheights.com).  It is located in a park just over the US-Canadian 
border and has a breathtaking view of the Niagara River gorge.  (Make a 
reservation and ask for a window table.)   A real find is the restaurant at the 
Niagara Culinary Institute (www.niagaracollege.ca/dining), at which student 
chefs hone their skills.  And my new favorite, is The Grill on King Street 
(905-468-7222, 233 King St.)

The area has many excellent hotels and bed-and-breakfasts.   Our home away from 
home is the beautiful and well-placed Wellington House 
(www.wellington.house at sympatico.ca), directly across the street from The 
Festival Theatre.  For information on other B&Bs go to 
www.niagaraonthelake.com/showbedandbreakfasts.  

For theatre information, a brochure or tickets, call 800-511-7429 or go on-line 
to www.shawfest.com.  Ask about packages that include lodging, meals and 
tickets.  Also be aware that the festival offers day-of-the-show rush tickets 
and senior matinee prices. 

Helpful hint: A passport is a border crossing requirement!

Go to the Shaw Festival!   Find out what lovely hosts Canadians are, and see 
some great theatre!
 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2011, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at 
http://royberko.info.  His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com 
and www.NeOHIOpal



      



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