Live theatre is about performance, and what better way to announce the upcoming season than with a cloud of fog and the tremendously talented Christopher Hunt MCing "The Martha Awards?" This was the case as ATP recently invited subscribers, donors, sponsors, volunteers and community supporters to a tongue-in-cheek "awards gala."
The constant nomination of "Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats" for the gold cat statues was an ongoing joke during the cleverly disguised announcement of an a-list series of plays, book-ended by two tales of artistic genius. From September 20th – October 8th the season will kick off with Amadeus, the story of fiendishly talented Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in eighteenth century Austria, and ends with Vincent in Brixton, the story of Vincent Van Gogh, from May 2nd – 20th.
From October 18 to November 5, one talented actress takes patrons through 23 characters and draws you into an extraordinary world. From her perch in the fragrant Syringa Tree, Lizzie Grace bears a child’s clear-eyed witness to the beauty and brutality of South Africa during apartheid in "The Syringia Tree." From there, ATP continues on the success of this season’s Pinocchio by teaming with Quest Theatre for an adaptation of Treasure Island, showing from November 26 to December 28.
The 20th annual Enbridge playRites Festival of New Plays promises to once again highlight some of Canada’s best upcoming playwrights. Already scheduled are Hippies and Bolsheviks by Amiel Gladstone, Picking up Chekhov by Mansel Robinson and The Blue Light by Mieko Ouchi . More shows will be announced in the future
Finally, Sarah Rhul’s The Clean House runs March 28 – April 15th. "A place for everything and everything in its place" is what Lane expects from her well-ordered life in her clean house. But for her housekeeper, Mathilde, life is anything but neat as grief over her parents’ deaths overwhelms her daily routine. Order is temporarily restored when Lane’s sister Virginia strikes a deal with Mathilde to keep herself busy with the housework. From chaos springs unexpected feelings, friendships and a strange sort of magic that transforms their sterile environment into a world of passion and enchantment.
While there is a great deal of excitement about next season, ATP still has two stellar pieces left in this season. Marion Bridge runs until April 16th and is the story of Black sheep of the family, Agnes, who returns from Toronto to her hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia to help nurse her terminally ill mother. But family can bring out the worst in people – despite their best efforts to behave like grown-ups! Much to her sisters’ discomfort, her presence loosens the lid on some closely guarded secrets. Agnes’ return reawakens yearnings and feelings she and her sisters have spent a lifetime trying to forget. Three women blunder comically and clumsily through forgiveness and understanding towards a true acceptance of each other. The 2003/2004 season will conclude with 2 Pianos, 4 Hands from May 3rd to 21st. The show is a musical extravaganza about the pleasures and torments of a passion for music. The story interweaves music by artists from Mozart to Tom Waits with warm, comic memories of a youth spent over the keys of a piano. In their quest for perfection, two young prodigies encounter the eccentricities of oddball teachers, the love-hate relationship at practice, and the pressure of piano exams, before finally facing the terror of the limits of their own ambition and talent. Part virtuoso piano recital, part warmhearted comedy, 2 Pianos, 4 Hands will strike a chord with anyone who’s ever tinkled the keys of a piano or dreamed of performing on stage.
2003/2004 was a stellar season for one of Calgary’s best theatre companies, blending comedy, drama, entertainment and music. From next year’s stacked line-up, it looks like more great moments are to come. Season’s tickets for next year as well as tickets to this season’s final two performances are available at the box office.
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Contributor Jason Clevett |
Locale Calgary |
Topic Alberta Theatre Projects | Theatre |
