Opinion with Michael Coren Proximity can lead to indifference. Or, to put it another way, there is a danger of taking what is close for granted. I say this because in the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, we have in Canada one of the finest theatre companies and drama festivals in the world and, while many of us know this, it’s extraordinary how often I meet people who have never been. What a tragedy that is. What we sometimes forget is that Stratford is within fairly easy driving distance for millions of Canadians. Even for those further afield, a short flight and a motel or hotel for a couple of nights is still a bargain – book for three or four shows and maybe move on to Toronto afterwards. I’ve been visiting the place for almost 30 years now and the standard of production, depth of cast, and skill and variety of performance has gone up each year. We tend to use the description “world-class” too often in Canada but, in this case, it genuinely applies. Take this latest season for example. Romeo and Juliet is an extremely difficult play to perform effectively for contemporary audiences. They know or assume that they know it well, and some of the romance can be misinterpreted as humour. This one was done superlatively, with Sara Farb in particular quite startlingly good as Juliet, as she managed to mingle childlike infatuation, maturing emotion and love, and absolute pathos. There wasn’t a weak player in the entire drama. Believe me, I’ve seen some renderings of Romeo and Juliet that ache with misunderstanding and clumsiness. Then there is Guys and Dolls, once again about a romantic relationship, but totally different in almost every other way. It’s a musical, it’s set in post-war New York, and most of us know the songs. Good Lord it worked well. Fresh, beautifully choreographed, expertly sung and acted. Or throw inThe School for Scandal, a late 18th-century British comedy based on social observations that could, if not handled so adroitly, be a little mannered and contrived. Here, it was as relevant and biting as if it were written last week. It’s compellingly funny and relentlessly vibrant. These were only three of the numerous offerings. This season, the festival is offering Twelfth Night, Tartuffe, The Breathing Hole, The Komagata Maru Incident, HMS Pinafore, Treasure Island, Timon of Athens, The Virgin Trial and The Madwoman of Chaillot, among others. That’s fairly typical in number and content – in other words, there is something for almost everybody. While Shakespeare is obviously the heart of the body, the festival is not exclusive in its scope. Having said that, do try at least one of their Shakespearean productions. Of course, he is sometimes tarnished by the pretentious types and the snobs who are out there, but he wrote for everybody and unquestioned genius is never stale. Some of the actors are regulars, other young and new, but the mix of experience and youth is one of the many strengths of the place. As is, by the way, the versatility of those involved. Remember, these people are doubling up on roles that are enormously diverse and demand different and various skills. I reviewed plays in London, England for a number of years before I came to Canada and I’ve seen some of the finest actors, in the hands of some of the best directors in the world, and what we have in Ontario can compare to any of it. The town itself has similarly developed and, almost every year, some new store or restaurant or park seems to appear or expand. While weekends are very busy, there is far less traffic – people as well as cars – during the week and this is wonderful walking as well as watching country. Beyond the three theatres – the Avon, Tom Patterson and the Festival ‒ and the cafes, eateries and shops, there is the natural beauty of the river and the paths. Have lunch or dinner, but it’s often worth booking for the latter, or maybe take a hamper and have a picnic by the water. Perhaps book for a 2 p.m. show, then have a meal, then an 8 p.m. production. I’ve grown to love Stratford very much indeed and don’t know anybody who hasn’t done the same, once they’ve been. Sometimes the best things in life are a lot closer than we think. CSANews | FALL 2017 | 15
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