[NEohioPAL] Berko review: THE SHAW FESTIVAL IN NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE

[Roy Berko]

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*Reviews and comments about THE SHAW FESTIVAL’s 2012 season*


The Shaw Festival, which is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, is a
tribute to George Bernard Shaw and his writing contemporaries.  It is one
of the two major Canadian theatre festivals, the other being The
Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario.  Both are high quality venues.


Many Clevelanders take the four-hour drive up to The Shaw, as it is called
by locals, to participate in theatre, tour the “most beautiful little city
in Canada,” shop, and eat at the many wonderful restaurants.

Here are summary statements about each of the shows I saw.  The complete
reviews can be read at www.royberko.ino.


•RAGTIME (Terrence McNally-Lynn Ahrens-Stephen Flaherty’s musical about the
U.S. melting pot as it relates to immigrants, racism, and Euro Americans in
the early 20th century. It is based on E. L. Doctorow’s ground-breaking
novel.)

            *Capsule judgement:  Shaw’s RAGTIME is a must see for anyone
who loves a well-staged, integrated musical drama, with superlative music
and meaningful lyrics.  *


•PRESENT LAUGHTER (Noel Coward’s farcical play which the author describes
as "a series of semi-autobiographical pyrotechnics.")

            *Capsule judgement:  Shaw’s PRESENT LAUGHTER is a total delight
which features fine acting, good pacing, visual delights and high
energy.  There’s
nothing much to learn, but there is a lot of laughter from this classic
play.*



•HIS GIRL FRIDAY (John Guare’s adaptation of the comic film, THE FRONT PAGE
which starred Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.)

            *Capsule judgement:  Why John Guare didn’t leave well enough
alone, or why the powers that be at The Shaw didn’t just produce the
original delightful play, is a mystery.  Why is the production rudderless
under the direction of Jim Mezon?  This is one of the most frustrating and
irritating productions the Festival has produced.*

 •TROUBLE IN TAHITI (Leonard Bernstein's jazzy short opera of love and
longing in U. S. America’s 1950s suburbia.)

            *CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  Bernstein’s TROUBLE IN TAHITI is one of
those scripts that is pleasing to watch and listen to as it is being seen,
but quickly evaporates from memory.  *


•A MAN AND SOME WOMEN (A world premiere by little known, but noted British
playwright Githa Sowerby.)

            *Capsule judgement:*  *A MAN AND SOME WOMEN is a well-written,
meaningful script, which gets an excellent production at The Shaw.  It is a
wonderful examination of the changing role of women.*


•COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA (William Inge’s story of a wife clinging to the
past and a husband clinging to a bottle.)

            *Capsule judgement:  Shaw’s COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA is theatre
and Inge at their finest.  Maxwell has honed a production that demands to
be seen!*


•MISALLIANCE (G. B. Shaw describes the play as a long debate in which “the
curtain will be lowered twice. The audience is requested to excuse these
interruptions, which are made solely for its convenience.”)

            *Capsule judgement:  MISALLIANCE is Shaw at his humorous best.  The
production’s staging is excellent and the acting first class, leading to an
evening of Shavian awareness and audience pleasure. This is what the Shaw
Festival is all about!*




It’s a good idea to make both theatre and lodging reservations early,
especially with the B&Bs on weekends. 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.

 There are some wonderful restaurants including the Dining Room located at
the Niagara Culinary Institute (www.niagaracollege.ca/dining. And my
in-town favorite, The Grill on King Street (905-468-7222, 233 King St.)

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.

*Go to the Shaw Festival! Find out what lovely hosts Canadians are, and see
some great theatre!  Don’t forget your passport as it’s the only form of
identification that will be accepted for re-entry into the U.S.*

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