Last night, March 21, 2018, Saint John got a sneak peek at the Saint John Theatre Company’s second main stage production Shakespeare in Love directed by Sandra Bell. The play, adapted by Lee Hall, was based on the 1998 movie screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard. The official opening performance takes place tonight at 7:30pm at the Imperial Theatre.
In the roles of William Shakespeare and Viola de Lesseps were the supremely talented Alex Goldrich and Emily Bartlett. Their steamy performance tonight was every bit as hot as Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes. Are you beginning to recall that scene of him twirling her out of her chest binding before they surrender themselves into passionate love-making? Oh yes. It brought back all of those pre-teen feelings I had when I first saw this movie – perhaps even more so because I saw it on preview/student night and there was a large student presence there as part of SJTC’s educational outreach initiatives. Emily and Alex just belong together on stage.
Under a month ago they starred in Lungs at the BMO Studio Theatre with Murmuration Theatre. In that play displaying such raw emotions, and in this performance portraying a lusty romance, it seems there’s not much this duo can’t accomplish. They are like Saint John’s very own Tessa and Scott. Alex and Emily certainly have a gift at creating a very intimate space between them and pulling the audience into their chemistry.
The rest of the cast did a marvellous job ensuring lots of laughs from the audience. Cameron Secord who starred as the gentleman caller in The Glass Menagerie and Rudi in East of Berlin returned to play the role of Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare’s best friend and confidante in the play. He was hilarious and I am sure Saint Johners can’t wait to see him in another large role.
Backstage crew members are never acknowledged enough for all that they do to entertain us. But the crew of Shakespeare In Love deserves special kudos today. Let’s start with costumes. Brenda McLeese did a fantastic job with the costumes. A period piece like this depends on good costumes to pull it off and the Wardrobe Department went above and beyond to bring Elizabethan England back to life.
Equally as impressive was the fight choreography displayed by the cast. The choreographer, Jean-François Gagnon, came in special from Montreal to assist with the play. Gagnon has over 30 years’ experience directing fight scenes and is one of two artists in the production that belong to the Canadian actors Equity Association, along with Emily Bartlett. It’s not every day we see such impressive fencing choreography in Saint John theatre.
Dog lovers will also adore the performance of Laika, playing the role of Spot, who appears to be a Golden mix.
Tickets are $39.50 for adults, $32.50 for seniors and $10 for students. Shakespeare In Love shows tonight, Friday night and Saturday night, along with a matinée on Saturday. Don’t hear about it from your friends! Get your tickets now from the Imperial Theatre Box Office – and while you’re at it, you better grab your tickets for SJTC’s last main stage production of Mamma Mia coming out in May! Stephen Tobias, Artistic Director of the SJTC, announced last night that Mamma Mia is breaking SJTC records for ticket sales and is set to be the most successful performance of the company. To keep up with audience demand, the SJTC has added an additional Sunday performance of Mamma Mia; SJTC’s main stage series finale is sure to sell out.