One of the most flippant plays ever written. Elyot and Amanda, once married and now honeymooning with new spouses at the same hotel, meet by chance, reignite the old spark and impulsively elope. After days of being reunited, they again find their fiery romance alternating between passions of love and anger, eventually leading to a knock-down, drag out fight. A unique play with four successful Broadway runs.
The Alumnae Theatre Company is proud to present, as part of our 88th consecutive season, Nöel Coward's sparklingly violent comedy Private Lives. One of the most prominent writers of his generation, Coward used a standard plot device - divorced couple unexpectedly meet while they're honeymooning with new spouses and the sparks begin to fly afresh - and turned it into a comic tour de force, climaxing with one of the funniest stage fights ever written.
As director Ed Rosing explains:
“Private Lives explores love in all its joys and sorrows. It is one of Nöel Coward's most sophisticated and brittle comedies . . . yet there are some very moving, serious moments. I have tried to create a production that shows all these contrasts: joy, overwhelming love, anger, even physical violence, all strung together by some of the funniest lines since Oscar Wilde. Although written in 1930, it is as fresh today as it was daring then. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did putting it all together.”
Nöel Coward, the English playwright, actor and composer (1899-1973) defined British wit at the turn of the 20th century. His first drama to be noted by the critics was The Vortex (1924), a dramatic play about narcotics addiction. In 1929 Coward starred in the Broadway production of his musical Bitter Sweet, a popular production in both Great Britain and the United States. Coward's most recognizable plays of the next decade included Private Lives (1930), Cavalcade (1931), Design for Living (1937) and Blithe Spirit (1941). In 1942 he wrote, co-directed with David Lean, and acted in the motion picture In Which We Serve, which presented life aboard a British naval destroyer. He continued his collaboration with Lean on the filming of Blithe Spirit (1945) and on the scenario for Brief Encounter (1946). Coward also wrote two volumes of autobiographical reminiscences, Present Indicative (1937) and Future Indefinite (1954), two collections of short stories, To Step Aside (1939) and Star Quality (1951) and a novel, Pomp and Circumstance (1960). He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1970 and died on March 26, 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica.
The cast of Private Lives features Michelle Alexander as Sybil (the wailing ingénue), Scott Clarkson as Elyot (Amanda's ex), Ruth Miller as Louise (the very French French maid), Derek Perks as Victor (Amanda's dashing but hapless new husband) and Dinah Watts* as Amanda (Elyot's ex and a prize fighter to boot).
Joining director Ed Rosing on the creative team are producers Elisabeth Feltaous and Nicole Grainger, assistant director Martin Chodorek, stage manager Margot Devlin and assistant stage managers Valerie Lemieux and Suzanne Tattersall, costume designer Margaret Spence, set designer Mark Hockin, lighting designer Simon Rossiter, sound designer Milan Djordjevic, fight choreographer Paul Stafford, dance choreographer Colette Carr and prop designer/set decorator Brandon Kleiman.
*Appearing courtesy of the Canadian Actors' Equity Association
Performance Dates
January 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30 & 31,
February 1 & 2
Performance Times
Wednesday to Saturday: 8:00 pm
Sunday Matinee: 2:00 pm
Box Office opens one hour before performance time
Admission Prices
Friday & Saturday: $18
Sunday Matinee: PWYC
Wednesday & Thursdays: 2 FOR 1
CASH ONLY! Box Office does not accept credit or debit cards
Reservations
Email: reservations@alumnaetheatre.com
Phone: 416-364-4170 (Box 1)
MICHELLE ALEXANDER,
Sybil
This is Michelle's first production with Alumnae Theatre. She is originally from Victoria, British Columbia born and raised. Last year she graduated from the University of Windsor's BFA Acting Program and made the big move to Toronto. Since coming to the city she has played Rosalind in Shakespeare's As You Like It at the Brampton Flower City Festival, and then went right from Rosalind to Sybil. She would like to thank the cast and crew for making this show possible as well as Justin and Dave for always being a constant source of support.
SCOTT CLARKSON,
Elyot Chase
Selected recent roles include Cambria in King Lear, Lacy in Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, and Canterbury (and others) in The Famous Victories of Henry (all with Shakespeare and the Queen's Men), Oscar Wilde in Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde (Staged and Confused), John Proctor in The Crucible (Brooklyn Heights Players), Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank (T.E.S.T. Theatre), Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing (Princeton Rep), the title roles in Hamlet and Don Juan in Hell (both at HB Studio, NY) Koljaiczek in The Tin Drum: Book One (UnSpun Theatre), MacLeannen in The Fort at York (Crate Productions), King in Rumours of Our Death (Staged and Confused). He studied at New York's HB Studio and Montreal's Concordia University.
RUTH MILLER,
Louise
Ruth is delighted to be playing Louise in this Alumnae Theatre production of Private Lives. She knew her French would come in handy one day! With the Alexander Singers and Players, Ruth has played Marie in The Most Happy Fella, and has twice played the role of Golde in Fiddler on the Roof. She is a member of Act ll Studio at Ryerson University where she takes classes and performs. In workshops with Crossroads Theatre Productions she has taken acting and singing roles and developed and performed personal performance pieces.
DEREK PERKS,
Victor Prynne
Derek was a theatre major at University of Windsor and Humber College, and is currently a member of Equity Theatre Showcase. Derek has previously acted in the one man show House; he played Jacob in Salt-Water Moon; Profiry in Platonov; Leonard and Michael in 7 Stories. Plus he appeared in the NOW Audience Choice Award winning play Ulcers before Adolescence. Derek is the recipient of the Bronze medal at the National Improv games of Canada, and a Civic award of recognition in the Arts from the City of Mississauga. Derek would like to thank family and friends, and friends of Bill W.
DINAH WATTS*,
Amanda
Dinah has had loads of fun in many previous productions at the Alumnae including Heretics, The Sea, Cloud Nine, On the Verge, The Rivals, The Real World?, Harold Pinter's Ashes to Ashes and most recently, Lady Windermere's Fan. Her work with other Toronto companies includes Audience/Unveiling/Protest for The Co.; Ines de Castro for Whetstone Productions; Babes not Bombs, the Lysistrata Project for Belltower Productions; Titus Andronicus and King John for Shakespeare in the Rough; Romeo and Juliet for CanStage; The Case of the Wandering Corpse at the Edinburgh Festival; The American Dream, The Revengers Tragedy and Forensic Tables at various Fringes; and Finish Line, Sparta and Jellied Salad all at SummerWorks.
KATHLEEN BURROWS,
Sound Operator
This is Kathleen's third production with Alumnae. Spending her high school and college years performing and crewing in school and community theatre productions, Kathleen was inspired to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Although not in theatre, she successfully attained positions in the music and post production industry in Australia, the UK and now in Canada. Leaving her to be involved in theatre and live production purely on a passionate level.
COLETTE CARR ,
Choreographer
Colette leads a very musical life alternating from choreographing musicals to teaching dance. Colette has had the chance to choreograph over twenty musicals throughout her career such as: Anne of Green Gables, Nunsense 1 &2, Camelot, Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, Oklahoma, The Mikado, Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, Oliver and many more. As well as her stage work, she has many television credits such as: Noddy, The Shining Time Station, Miss Canada Pageant, Opening Ceremonies of the Skydome to name a few. She has received her training at Roland and Romaine Prod. Ltd., where she currently manages and teaches students of all ages. Thanks to everyone involved with this wonderful production. Merde! Love to Carlos, Rémi and Brielle.
xoxo
MARTIN CHODOREK,
Assistant Director
This is Martin's first time working with the Alumnae Theatre Company. A graduate of the Ryerson University Theatre: Acting program, he feels particularly blessed to be working on this Coward masterpiece. Martin's previous offstage credits include directing David Auburn's Proof (Staged and Confused) and stage managing William Mastrosimone's Extremities (Little Olga Productions). Rarely at a loss for words, he feels unable to adequately express his sincere appreciation of the incredible individuals with whom he has had the pleasure of working on this romp. Martin extends eternal gratitude to Ed Rosing for presenting him with this opportunity.
MILAN DJORDJEVIC,
Sound Design
Milan Djordjevic aka emde, is a Toronto based DJ, Producer and Sound Designer. Milan is a Sound Technology Graduate from the Toronto Film School where he showed interest early in Sound Design and Editing while working on post production projects for a number of student films. He has since designed sound effects and created original music for live theater and online video games. He is also working with local artists on many projects including his own at his home studio here in Toronto.
MARK HOCKIN,
Set Design
For Alumnae Theatre: Debut. Elsewhere: Set Design for Into the Woods, Crazy For You (Queens Musical Theatre); Three Sisters (Queens Drama Dept.); Glengarry Glen Ross, Proof (Staged & Confused); Set and Lighting design for Rumours of Our Death, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde. (Staged & Confused).
BRANDON KLEIMAN,
Props
Brandon is glad to be working for thesecond time with Alumnae Theatre this season. He is currently in his fourth year at York University studying theatre design. Select design credits include, Memory of Water; Alumnae Theatre, Spare Change; 2007 PlayGround Festival, 7 Stories; Ellen Green, Rhinoceros; Madd Harold. He has also spent the past summer working with The Canadian Stage Company as an apprentice stage manager for The 25th Anniversary Dream in High Park. Brandon looks forward to returning to Alumnae for their final show this season, again as props designer. Brandon would like to thank his family and friends, as well as Ed Rosing for this opportunity.
VALERIE LEMIEUX,
Assistant Stage Manager
This is Valerie's second foray into backstage “duties” with the Alumnae Theatre. Previously she provided props (sleuthing) services for the Alumnae production of After You. This production she is sharing assistant stage managing duties. Prior theatre experience includes on-stage performance (community theatre) and assistant stage managing with the Scarboro Music Theatre (eons ago!). Valerie is happy to get back into the swing of things with this truly delightful and “energetic” production! Kudos to Stage Manager Margot for showing me the ropes once again.
SIMON ROSSITER,
Lighting Design
Simon is a freelance lighting designer, and lighting systems designer and consultant with Novita Techne in Toronto, Ontario. Selected credits in lighting design include: High School Musical (Oakridge S.S. ); Flux: A Series of Contemporary Dance Works (Lacey Smith and D. A. Hoskins, choreographers); Footloose (Lord Dorchester S.S.); Hansel & Gretel (OperaYork); Ruthless!; The Wizard of Oz; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; A Midsummer Nights Dream (Long Lake Theater, NY); Laughing Wild (Inkling Theatre); more than a dozen designs at the Ryerson Theatre School, including Proud Son, Bitter Daughter; The Bodies Perspective; and Measure for Measure. Assistant lighting design for The Graduate (Grand Theatre); Orpheus Descending (Mirvish Productions); Orfeo & Eurydice (Opera Atelier). Recipient of the Ryerson Theatre Schools Sandy Black Award for commitment to the craft of live theatre. Upcoming work includes All Shook Up in London, Ontario.
DIMITRY SENYSHYN ,
Dramaturg
Dimitry is a PhD student at the Graduate Centre for Study of Drama at the University of Toronto. He is currently serving as assistant director for the PLS production of Ram Alley - opening the first week of March - and as dramaturge for the REED/MaPs production of Francis Beaumont's 1613 masque. Recent credits include The Changeling (GCSD-dramaturge), Every Man Out of His Humour (GCSD-Deliro), and Harlequin Enlightened by Love (GCSD-Harlequin).
PAUL STAFFORD, A graduate of A.M.D.A in New York and the Creative Ensemble program at York here in Toronto, Paul has worked as a Fight Director, Consultant and Stage Fighter in Europe and North America for over 10 years. He would like to thank the cast, crew and everyone involved for their time and effort.
SUZANNE TATTERSALL,
Assistant Stage Manager
Previous productions include Anton Chekhov's Wild Honey, Criminal Hearts by Jane Martin, and she was also Stage Manager for the New Ideas play Hell Is A Cubicle.
ED ROSING,
Director
Ed, an English/Drama major received his BA at Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio. He went on to study at Yale Drama School and completed his education at Central School in London, England. Back home in Toronto, he was one of the founders of The Cabbagetown Theatre and was Producer and Lighting Designer for over forty shows. He has been Resident Lighting Designer for Act 11 Studio of Ryerson for the last ten years, and has been involved with every Mainstage production in various capacities at the Alumnae for over a year. Having been backstage for so many years and being a fan of Noel Coward's wonderful plays, this was a perfect opportunity to get back on the other side of the footlights, after a long hiatus.
ALUMNAE THEATRE COMPANY
70 Berkeley Street
Toronto, Ontario • M5A 2W6
Phone: 416-364-4170
Email: contactus@alumnaetheatre.com
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