Media Release #7

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, April 17, 2008 … Previews began on Friday in the Royal George Theatre for Getting Married, Bernard Shaw’s witty and thoroughly modern look at the venerable institution of marriage.

The bishop’s daughter is getting married. Or at least she was until she and her groom begin to have their doubts. They’ve each received a pamphlet titled “Do You Know What You Are Going to Do? By A Woman Who Has Done It” and they both begin to question whether marriage is any kind of sensible union. Soon the whole household – from the bishop to the greengrocer – has an opinion to share.

For the second year in a row the Festival presents Shaw in the Royal George. It’s a chance to enjoy close up Shaw’s thought-provoking and humorous play, deftly handled by a world-renowned company of actors. Directed by Joseph Ziegler, this production follows last year’s Royal George Shaw, The Philanderer - another Shavian comedy about marriage. It has been said that many of the ideas Shaw introduced in the ‘lost’ fourth act of The Philanderer made their way into Getting Married, written ten years later. This will be the fourth production of Getting Married at the Shaw Festival.

Among the bride and groom’s opinionated family and friends are Peter Krantz as General “Boxer” Bridgenorth, Fiona Byrne as Lesbia Grantham, Laurie Paton as Mrs George Collins, Martin Happer as St John Hotchkiss, David Schurmann as the Bishop of Chelsea, Michael Ball as William Collins, Norman Browning as Father Anthony Soames, Nicolá Correia-Damude as Leo Bridgenorth, Sharry Flett as Alice Bridgenorth and Peter Millard as Reginald Bridgenorth. The cast also includes Krista Colosimo, Al Kozlik and Gray Powell.

Getting Married is designed by Sue LePage with lighting design by Louise Guinand. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Beatrice Campbell and Assistant Stage Manager Dora Tomassi.

Getting Married begins preview performances Friday, April 11; opens Thursday, May 22; and plays in repertory until Saturday, November 1. Getting Married is sponsored by Sun Life Financial.

The 2008 season is proudly presented by HSBC Bank Canada/HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

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Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com for other Shaw Festival media releases.

For more information, or to download images from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck
Public Relations Director
905-468-2153 or
1-800-657-1106 ext. 222
odette@shawfest.com

Patti Broughton
Public Relations Co-ordinator
905-468-2153 or
1-800-657-1106 ext. 224
pbroughton@shawfest.com

Press Contact Information

Shaw Festival
odette@shawfest.com
1-800-657-1106 ext 222
Shaw Festival PO Box 774 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0 CANADA

Source URL: http://www.shawfest.com

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