Frontmezzjunkies reports: The Four Eagerly Awaited August Openings at NOTL’s Shaw Festival
By Ross
It’s all ready and set, for an August odyssey both my friend and I won’t soon forget. After a weekend of intense Stratford Festival explorations—and four days exploring Montreal with my fellow theatre junkie who has never visited that vibrant city—we’re now jumping headfirst into the Shaw Festival’s four incredible summer premieres. And I have to admit: my theatre-loving heart is already pounding with anticipation. This lineup excites and intrigues, delivering a full-blown banquet of suspense, history, drama, and hilarity, all sprinkled with the kind of well-crafted brilliance the Shaw Festival time and time again delivers.
First up is Wait Until Dark, a nerve-racking thriller that should reveal itself like a game of cat and mouse in a dimly lit NYC apartment. Susan, recently blinded, must outwit a gang of ruthless thugs in a high-stakes game of survival. This heart-stopping production, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher (Tuesdays with Morrie) and directed by Sanjay Talwar (Shaw’s Candida), promises to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. With set design by Lorenzo Savoini (Stratford’s London Assurance) and lighting by Louise Guinand (Stratford’s Casey and Diana), I picture myself holding my breath through every twist and turn—a rollercoaster of darkness and light, suspense and resolve.
Next, I’m heading to Murder-on-the-Lake, a clever whodunit that invites a brave audience member on stage to channel their inner detective. Set in Niagara-on-the-Lake on a stormy night, a mysterious death at a historic Bed & Breakfast has everyone spooked. Accident? Suicide? Or murder? Or maybe—it’s just a clever plot for a stage play! Led by Rebecca Northan and Bruce Horak (Spontaneous Theatre‘s Goblin:Macbeth), this interactive whodunit promises a tantalizing mix of suspects, red herrings, and plenty of fun. Whether you help solve the case or sit back and enjoy the chaos, it’s bound to keep you on the edge of your seat. Set design by Judith Bowden (Shaw’s Tons of Money) and sound by John Gzowski (Tarragon’s Post-Democracy), I hope to see myself on the edge of my seat, whispering “Who did it?” with every twist.
Then I’ll be swept away to Blues for an Alabama Sky, the stunning tale of love, loss, and ambition in 1930s Harlem. Post-Cotton Club, Angel and her friends are holding on amid social upheaval, struggling to keep their dreams alive. I love stories of resilience and hope, and Pearl Cleage’s masterpiece, directed by Kimberley Rampersad (Stratford’s King Lear), promises to capture the true spirit of an era that changed everything. With soulful music and passionate characters, I expect this to be a powerful, exhilarating ride through hardship and heart.
Finally, I’ll close my Shaw Festival adventure with Gnit—a wild, wacky journey through a man’s quest for his ‘True Self‘. From author Will Eno of Thom Pain (based on nothing), this rollicking tale of Peter Gnit, a charming but flawed figure, explores how laziness might be the opposite of love. Directed by Tim Carroll (Shaw’s My Fair Lady), with set and costumes by Hanne Loosen (Shaw’s Flush) and music by Claudio Vena (Shaw’s Everybody), this thought-provoking and fearless take on the peerless Peer Gynt hopefully will have me laughing and gasping at the same time, caught up in a beautiful mess of bad decisions and hilarious revelations, all with a sly nod to Henrik Ibsen.
Four shows—each one bursting with bold stories, stunning performances, and Shaw’s signature blend of wit and wisdom. I can’t wait to soak up every moment, to be challenged, delighted, and maybe even changed. Stay tuned: I’ll be back with all the highlights, insights, and what totally knocked my socks off.
