A Season of Firsts: Theatre Erindale Presents A Classic with a Twist: Henrik Ibsen’s
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| MISSISSAUGA, ON - The Theatre and Drama Studies program is bouncing back from the winter break with Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler adapted and directed by the program’s very own Melee Hutton. This is the first of three shows that will be performed by the graduating class this semester, and we are proud to kick off our second half of the season with an Ibsen masterpiece.
Hutton’s adaptation is set in North America in 1963 - The year that Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique became hugely popular, yet often secretive, reading for women everywhere. Friedan’s book sounded the alarm bell on the trap of being a bored housewife and unleashed a movement of emancipation. Erindale is excited to have the Dora nominated actor and director on board to re-imagine this 109-year-old whirlwind of a play in a contemporary light. Hedda was born into privilege and power, yet finds herself adrift after the death of her father and marries George Tesman, who makes up in enthusiasm for what he lacks in glamour- they are an unlikely pairing with, often hilarious, disparities. Theatre Erindale’s production lives in a fast paced environment where characters can walk in and out on each other at any moment through the swing of a revolving door. Although this is credited to Hutton’s adaptation, she had great source material. Ibsen is one of the most outstanding playwrights, and Hedda Gabler may be his most controversial piece of work. The Norwegian was a primary figure of the artistic renaissance in the 19th century in Norway, and drew upon his own experiences of financial issues, class struggles, and depression, to propel him in his writing of Hedda Gabler. Once married, Hedda has to face the conflict between her past self and who she is expected to become, giving her barely any room to breathe. Hutton says that music has become an integral part of her production “Through rehearsals I have learned that the 1960s setting gives the play a faster, sexier more dangerous energy than I have seen before. It is great classical dramatic literature mixed with a Film Noir crime mystery.” Join us for the most significant twenty-four hours in the life of Hedda Gabler; as she battles to control her primal instincts within the confines of a domesticated life. Running at the Erindale Studio Theatre from January 26th- February 5th, 2017. “All because she can’t control a single, burning night of her life!” |
| Meet the Director:
We welcome back faculty member Melee Hutton to the director’s table here at Theatre Erindale for her third production with the program. Melee Hutton was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and studied acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she won the James Bridie Medal and The Citizen’s Theatre Award. She holds an MFA and a two-year Graduate Diploma in the Teaching of Acting from York University. She has directed Dora nominated productions such as The Dumb Waiter, and Miss Julie: Sheh’mah, and has also performed all over the world from Nightwood Theatre, to the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain. You can also catch her on your television in shows such as Murdoch Mysteries and Flashpoint, and you will soon see her latest acting coaching on the upcoming CBC/Netflix series “ANNE”. |
| Show Information: Hedda Gabler Will be running at the Erindale Studio Theatre. The show dates/ times are as follows: |
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| The show dates/ times are as follows:
Jan. 26th @ 8:00 |
For tickets follow the URL  email the box office boxoffice.utm@utoronto.ca or call (905) 569-4369 to reserve your tickets today! |
| The Cast: Rachel VanDuzer - Hedda Gabler Lauren Wolanski - Thea Elvsted Giovanna Pandullo - Lovborg Shawn Doyle - George Tesman Brett Houghton - Judge Brack Alma Sarai - Juliana Tesman Sarah Hime - Beattie |
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Theatre and Drama Studies:
The Theatre and Drama Studies Specialist Program is a unique partnership in theatre training offered jointly between the University of Toronto Mississauga and the Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. Students earn a two-year (equivalent) conservatory diploma in professional actor training from Sheridan in combination with a Specialist program focused on performance history, theory, and dramatic literature from UTM.
Contact: David Matheson 905-845-9430 x2436