THEATRE SEASON OPENS WITH
TENSION FILLED DRAMA

 

One of the most celebrated and frequently performed plays of the American Theatre opens Kanata Theatre’s 39th Season.

The Heiress by Ruth and Augustus Goetz is based on Henry James’s short novel, Washington Square. The first production of the play was one of the major hits of the 1947 Broadway season. The 1949 movie version, also written by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, received eight academy award nominations and won four, including best actress for Olivia de Havilland and best musical score for Aaron Copeland.

Happenstance played a role in the development of this classic of literature, stage and film. The idea for the novel came from a story Henry James heard at a dinner party. The Goetz play was originally entitled Washington Square and almost had a different ending, forced on the playwrights by a nervous producer. It was shortly before opening that The Heiress was adopted as the play’s title and the original ending restored.

The timeless appeal of the play has resulted in frequent revivals. The Shaw Festival produced The Heiress as part of its 2006 season.

As well as the stage and film adaptations of James’s work, Washington Square formed the basis of a full-length ballet of the same name produced by the National Ballet in 1979 starring Veronica Tennant with a musical score by Vancouver composer Michael Conway Baker and choreography by James Kudelka.

The play is set in mid 19th century New York City where the spinster Catherine lives with her wealthy, successful and demanding father, Dr Sloper, a widower. Into their life comes the charming and eligible young bachelor Morris. The tension-filled story dramatically illustrates the emotional isolation and repression that may well have been the rule rather than the exception in the 1850s.

Kanata Theatre’s production will be one of the most sumptuously costumed plays in the company’s history. A small army of skilled costumers under the supervision of Brenda Parr has spared no effort to give this show an authentic feel.

Eufron and Dewi Williams direct the play. The cast features Shelley Harrison as Catherine Sloper, Gordon Walls as Morris Townsend and Bill Horsman as Dr. Austin Sloper. Other cast members are Katie Betts as Maria, Gwendy Tolley as Lavinia, Heather Walt as Elizabeth, Mark McPherson as Arthur, Katie Ryerson as Marian, Kimberly Bateman as Mrs. Montgomery, Guy Buller as a coachman and Andrea Massoud, Ursula Geisler and Ashley Ritchie as the ever busy maids of the Sloper household.

The Heiress runs in the Ron Maslin Playhouse, 1 Ron Maslin Way, Kanata, Tuesday September 18 to Saturday to 29, except Sunday and Monday. The Playhouse enjoys abundant free parking and is fully accessible. Hearing assist is available. Curtain is at 8 pm sharp. Tickets are $15. The box office number is 613 831 4435. For more information about this production and Kanata Theatre you can visit the website at www.kanatatheatre.com.