From Press Release
Strolling Player at the Toronto Fringe Festival
From enchanted boy at his father’s theatre to actor bringing Shakespeare to the White House, through death and divorce, Oscar Wilde and Harvey Fierstein, falling off the stage and falling in love, Richard Sheridan Willis recounts the passions and absurdities of one actor’s life.
There’s the paparazzi stalking a doomed marriage. A backstage brawl and a wedding ring, flung into a parking lot. Debilitating tours across America. Rehearsal in New York on 9/11, a performance for George W. Bush, a break-up in Venice. A beautiful, dark Northern Ontario girl, a wedding on a lake. Encounters with Daniel Day Lewis, Richard Burton, Dr. Who, Oscar Wilde. And Shakespeare, his first love. Always, there is Shakespeare.
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Richard Sheridan Willis has appeared on Flashpoint, Law & Order, Nikita, Dr. Who, Lost Girl, and numerous other TV series. He has just finished acclaimed performances in Washington DC at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre as the Chorus in Henry V and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Originally from England, he married the Canadian writer, Heidi Reimer and moved to Canada 5 years ago.
Lucas Wilson is Strolling Player’s Technical Director and is best known for his work as an illusionist. He has appeared on Canada’s Got Talent and made a successful pitch on The Dragon’s Den. According to The Guinness Book of World Records, Lucas is officially the world’s fastest straitjacket escape artist. www.theillusionist.ca.
Lisa Dent-Couturier is the General Director of Compass Theatre Productions. In addition to her work on Strolling Player, she can be found preparing for Compass’ 2013- 2014 Season which begins with a tour of The Little Prince and ends with performances at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts. She will be dividing her time between Toronto and Stratford where her son Arden is playing the young Tommy in the Stratford Festival’s “Tommy” directed by Des McAnuff.
Robert Richmond directs Strolling Player. His off-Broadway hit production of Comedy of Errors was brought to La Jolla Playhouse by Des McAnuff. This year he directed the critically acclaimed Henry V at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC, which became the best-selling show in the theatre’s history. He has just directed Twelfth Night at the Folger and will return there to direct Richard III in 2014. www.robertrichmond.com, DreadfulSorrymovie.com
STROLLING PLAYER at the TARRAGON EXTRA SPACE
30 Bridgman Avenue, Toronto
July 3 – 13, 2013
Wednesday July 3 6:30pm
Friday July 5 3:30pm
Sunday July 7 8:15pm
Monday July 8 4:30pm
Wednesday July 10 12:00pm
Friday July 12 5:15pm
Saturday July 13 10:30pm
Please note that there is no latecomer seating.
Tickets:
$10 at the door (cash only). Available at TARRAGON EXTRA SPACE starting one hour prior to show time.
$11 in advance ($9 + $2 service charge, VISA or MC). On sale June 15th, 2013.
Purchase online: fringetoronto.com By phone: 416-966-1062, ext. 1
In person during the Festival: Box Office in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s (581 Bloor St W)