(1888PressRelease)
July 19, 2007 - Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, The Shaw Festival’s production of Tennessee Williams’ American classic Summer and Smoke, begins previews in the Royal George Theatre.
Alma Winemiller (Nicole Underhay), a refined preacher’s daughter, has been irresistibly drawn to the troubled John Buchanan (Jeff Meadows) since childhood, but they’ve always circled each other without true connection. When John returns home to the stifling community of Glorious Hill, Mississippi, it seems that he and Alma might overcome the past - but Tennessee Williams has other plans. Much like he did in A Streetcar Named Desire, Williams places a delicate young woman into the hands of a charismatic and compelling man and the sparks fly.
With a catalogue of over 80 plays, Williams is considered one of the most prominent playwrights of the 20th century and Summer and Smoke has been called one of his five greats. Like many of Williams’ early characters, the people that inhabit Glorious Hill are drawn from members of his own family. He once called Alma a “self-portrait”, particularly in terms of her sensitivities and hypochondria.
Summer and Smoke is the first play by Tennessee Williams to be produced by the Shaw Festival.
The cast also includes Guy Bannerman as Dr. John Buchanan Sr., Sharry Flett as Mrs. Winemiller and Peter Hutt as Reverend Winemiller; as well as Kawa Ada, Nicola Correia-Damude, Jonathan Gould, Melanie Janzen, Chilina Kennedy, Micheal Querin, Brigitte Robinson and Jay Turvey.
Summer and Smoke is directed by Associate Director Neil Munro, with set design by Peter Hartwell, costume design by Christina Poddubiuk, lighting design by Alan Brodie and music composition by Marc Desormeaux. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Bill Jamieson and Assistant Stage Manager Heather Lewis.
Summer and Smoke begins preview performances Saturday, June 23; opens Friday, July 6; and plays in repertory until Saturday, October 27. Summer and Smoke is sponsored by Abitibi Consolidated.
The 2007 season is proudly presented by HSBC Bank Canada/HSBC Bank USA, N.A
