dirty butterfly to take the stage in Toronto again
One of the fantastic things about fringe festivals is that you get to see amazing stuff before it becomes the ‘next big thing’. The idea of following something from its beginnings on the fringe stage as it continues to moves through the various stages of its artistic life is certainly exciting.
In 2012 Bound To Create presented a critically-acclaimed and nearly sold-out version of dirty butterfly. If you had the chance to see it then it means you are now in the position of being able to do that exciting following of a life cycle. Bound To Create will be opening dirty butterfly at Daniel’s Spectrum this Friday, November 1 (previews start Wednesday) as part of the Obsidian Theatre Company’s Presentation Series.
So, if you were lucky enough to see it before you get to see how it’s changed and developed, how the spaces are being used differently and all the exciting things that go along with that. However, if you didn’t get a chance to see the show in 2012, it just means you get to see it with completely fresh eyes. You won’t be comparing it to any memories.
With a relatively short run (November 1 – 17, 2013), you’re going to want to pick up your tickets to this one as soon as you can, judging by the poor unfortunate souls who were turned away during fringe in 2012–and I can only imagine that with even more time the show is even better. You can get tickets by calling the box office at 1-877-854-9708 or online.
See the press release below for more information:
Bound to Create Theatre presents the North American Professional Premiere of dirty butterfly by Debbie Tucker Green as part of Obsidian Theatre’s 2013/14 Season Presentation Series.
“You ever woke up of a morning wonderin’ this was gonna be your last? You ever got that feelin’ in your stomach as you lay there wonderin?”
Bound to Create Theatre, the double Dora nominated company behind the Next Stage Festival hit The Grace Project: Sick and the Fringe hits Saved (2011), and The Complex (2010), presents the first professional production of dirty butterfly. This mesmerizing and startling drama by Jamaican British playwright Debbie Tucker Green explores voyeurism, power and guilt by confronting the collateral damage of domestic abuse and racial economic divide through a modern storytelling style that is equally blunt and poetic.
Three people. Two black, one white. Adjacent tenement houses in a poor London neighborhood. The thin walls expose the undercurrent of deep racial economic divide and the brutal unspoken truths about domestic violence; displaying the frightening reality that both are on the rise in our current world climate.
“We chose this play to highlight an unfortunate truth that both domestic abuse and racism are actually on the rise. The company has partnered up with the White Ribbon Campaign for this show with proceeds going to help raise awareness about violence against women,” says Jack Grinhaus, Director. “The subject matter is heavy, but the play itself is highly theatrical and entertaining, challenging both artists and audiences to work their way through an almost postmodern style of writing for the theatre.
Adds Lauren Brotman, Co-Artistic Director, It has a musicality and poetry to its form, the play challenges the audience to listen in a new way. The text is fast-paced, the language broken up and overlapping. But the exciting rhythm is what we believe will compel audiences to keep up with it.”
dirty butterfly was voted one of the Top Ten Shows to see at the 2011 Fringe by Grid Magazine and Torontoist, garnering outstanding Direction and Outstanding Ensemble by NOW Magazine and topping the Best of Fest list by Mooney on Theatre. Jack Grinhaus directs a stellar cast, featuring Kaleb Alexander (Mister Baxter), Lauren Brotman (Awake) and Beryl Bain (Shaw Festival Theatre). Set and costume design by Jackie Chau, lighting design by Andre du Toit, and sound design by Samuel Sholdice.
Beautifully constructed… Visually Stunning. – NOW Magazine.
**** 1/2 “A harrowing examination… Bound to Create’s production goes right for the gut.” Torontoist
Bound to Create Theatre presents dirty butterfly by Debbie Tucker Green
Directed by Jack Grinhaus
Featuring Kaleb Alexander, Beryl Bain, Lauren Brotman
Set and Costume Design by Jackie Chau, Lighting Design by Andre duToit, Sound Deign by Samuel Sholdice
October 30 – November 17 , 2013
Previews & talkbacks: October 30 and 31 $15
Tuesday to Saturday 8:00 p.m, Sundays at 2:00 p.m
Tickets: Buy online
Tuesday and Wednesday $20, Thursday to Sun $25.
$20 student and artist tickets available
PWYC Sunday November 10
Aki Studio – Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas Street East. Toronto)
Photo of Kaleb Alexander, Lauren Brotman by Joe Bucci