The Shaw Festival: Behind the Curtain

Stimulating, cutting-edge theater is not only found on Broadway. For 50 years, the Shaw Festival in the charming historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, has worked "in the spirit of George Bernard Shaw," producing plays rarely performed elsewhere. Four theaters serve as home to an ensemble company of 60 actors who star in a playlist that offers variety and challenges. One actress, for instance, has a supporting part in a light Noel Coward comedy in the day, then switches to a leading role in the moody William Inge drama Come Back, Little Sheba later that night. In addition to its artistic merits, the well-attended Shaw Festival plays an important economic function in the region. Filmmakers Jeremy Major and Aaron Lam's PBS-aired documentary takes viewers on a whirlwind behind-the-scenes tour, interviewing actors, costume and set designers, and audience members who flock to the area each season, often seeing as many plays as possible. Of course, some degree of box office success is critical, so while great care is lavished on the details of props, sets, and wardrobe, there is also an emphasis on economy, with rapid set-ups and breakdowns of scenery after every show (one theater is located in an old town courthouse for part of the year). Actors value the Shaw Festival for the chance to perform diverse roles, as well as the mentoring relationships that spring up between veterans and apprentices, and the comradeship and friendly bonds that are formed in and out of the theater. Sure to appeal to theater buffs, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)