Summer openings at the Shaw Festival: The Devil's Disciple, Albertine in Five Times, Star Chamber and Play, Orchestra, Play

Summer openings at the Shaw Festival: The Devil’Äôs Disciple, Albertine in Five Times, Star Chamber and Play, Orchestra, Play

The Shaw Festival’Äôs summertime openings begin tomorrow evening with Bernard Shaw’Äôs rollicking adventure The Devil’Äôs Disciple at the Festival Theatre. On Friday, July 10, a new translation of Michel Tremblay's Albertine in Five Times (Albertine en Cinq Temps) by Governor General’Äôs Award winner Linda Gaboriau premieres at the Court House Theatre and on Saturday, July 11, the rarely produced Star Chamber, the comedy gem from Noˆ´l Coward’Äôs Tonight at 8:30 collection; and Play, Orchestra, Play, the second Noˆ´l Coward triplet, open at the Royal George Theatre. Sunday in the Park with George, Brief Encounters, In Good King Charles’Äôs Golden Days, Moon for the Misbegotten and Born Yesterday opened The Shaw’Äôs 2009 season in May.

In commemoration of the achievements of The Shaw’Äôs creative team, gala dinners are held prior to opening night performances and are attended by dignitaries from local government, Canada’Äôs artistic and business communities; and by Shaw supporters.

The Devil’Äôs Disciple

by George Bernard Shaw

directed by Tadeusz Bradecki

Opens ’Äì July 9 Closes ’Äì October 11

Festival Theatre

Sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

It’Äôs the height of the American Revolution and Dick Dudgeon ’Äî the black sheep son ’Äì is known as the Devil’Äôs Disciple. When he is mistaken for a crusading minister and imprisoned by English forces, the lines between saint and sinner are blurred. A comedy, an adventure and a love story, its first production in 1897 was so successful that Shaw was able to quit his day job as a critic.

Albertine in Five Times

by Michel Tremblay

translated by Linda Gaboriau

directed by Micheline Chevrier

Opens ’Äì July 10 Closes ’Äì October 10

Court House Theatre

What would you say to your younger self if you had the chance? What if you met yourself 10, 20, 30 years in the future? Albertine, Quˆ©bˆ©cois theatre’Äôs most iconic character, gets the chance to converse with five versions of herself in varying stages of her life, reviewing past pains, loves and losses.

Star Chamber

by Noˆ´l Coward

directed by Kate Lynch

Opens ’Äì July 11 Closes ’Äì October 11

Royal George Theatre

A committee of actors meet to discuss the refurbishment of Garrick Haven, a home for retired thespians. Though the stage manager and secretary dutifully arrive on time, the rest of the group make their tardy, and rather dramatic, entrances. With duelling divas and tales of past glories and gossip, the agenda is quickly forgotten and the meeting quickly reduces into comic chaos. Coward made sure every known and enjoyed type of performer makes an appearance during the meeting. Star Chamber is this season’Äôs lunchtime presentation.

Play, Orchestra, Play

by Noˆ´l Coward

directed by Christopher Newton

Opens ’Äì July 11 Closes ’Äì October 31

Royal George Theatre

Taken from the Noˆ´l Coward song ’ÄúYou Were There’Äù, the title Play, Orchestra, Play highlights the significant role music plays in this Coward cluster and features some of his most celebrated songs. From the backstage lives of a singing and dancing comedy act in Red Peppers, to the rare Coward stage depiction of suburban life in Fumed Oak, to Shadow Play, the musical fantasy of a couple falling in and out of love; this Coward compilation combines lyrics, laughter and longing.