When an Englishman is sentimental he behaves very much as an Irishman does when he is drunk.

Media Release #15

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, June 23, 2010…. John Bull’s Other Island, Bernard Shaw’s farcical fairy tale, is currently in previews at the Court House Theatre. Artistic Director Emeritus Christopher Newton directs the Shavian satirical story that had King Edward VII in stitches and solidified Shaw’s career as a playwright.

With a business deal in mind, friends and business partners Tom Broadbent (Benedict Campbell) and Larry Doyle (Graeme Somerville) travel to the small Irish town of Roscullen. Broadbent, the Englishman, already infected with stereotypical impressions of the country, plunges headfirst into love with everything Irish, including Nora Reilly (Severn Thompson), Doyle’s old flame. Doyle, the hometown boy, only sees a country trapped in its past.

Also featured are Jim Mezon as Peter Keegan, with Guy Bannerman, Mary Haney, Thom Marriott, Patrick McManus, Craig Pike, Ric Reid, David Schurmann, Jonathan Widdifield and Tim Ziegler.

John Bull’s Other Island is designed by Design Director William Schmuck with lighting design by Louise Guinand. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Beatrice Campbell and Assistant Stage Manager Barry Burns.

First performed on November 1, 1904 at London’s Royal Court Theatre, John Bull’s Other Island was directed by Shaw and Harley Granville Barker. There have been four previous productions at the Shaw Festival of this unromantic look at the romance of Ireland — in 1964, 1985 and 1998, directed respectively by Andrew Allan, the Festival’s first Artistic Director, Denise Coffey and Jim Mezon.

John Bull’s Other Island began preview performances Friday, June 18, opens Saturday, July 10 and plays in repertory until Saturday, October 9.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news for other Shaw Festival media releases. For more information, or to download images from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com