Jitters Jitters

by David French

This extremely funny play has become a Canadian classic. It begins on the set of The Care and Treatment of Roses, an ambitious work by a budding young local writer, which is now in final rehearsal by a provincial Canadian theatre company. Whatever can go wrong does so but the show, despite all, goes on, even though the New York producer who has promised to attend never arrives, and the surprisingly good (if somewhat sententious) opening night notices set the cast members at each other's throats -- all lending special credence to a remark by one of the actors who, when the rattled director implores his cast to behave like adults, replies: "We're not adults, we're actors."

Twelve Angry Jurors Twelve Angry Jurors

by Sherman L. Sergel
adapted from the television play by Reginald Rose

A 19-year-old boy has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It looks like an open-and-shut case-until one of the jurors begins opening the others' eyes to the facts. During the discussions each juror reveals his or her own character as the various testimonies are re-examined and the murder is re-enacted before their own eyes! Tempers get short, arguments grow heated, and the jurors become twelve angry people. Their final verdict and how they reach it provides an electrifying and thought-provoking experience and will, we hope, keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

The play – a perennial favourite – is set in and around ancient Athens (whose Duke, Theseus, is about to marry Hippolyta) and takes place in Midsummer. It’s a delightful farce revolving around the adventures of four young lovers (Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius) and a group of amateur actors (Peter Quince, Bottom, the Weaver, and their friends Snug, Snout and Flute) and the interactions of both these groups with the fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest where Oberon, King of the Fairies, and his queen, Titania, preside. Puck is Oberon’s jester, full of mischief and tricks, who delights in playing pranks on mortals. Don’t miss Stage Centre productions first play by Shakespeare!

Taking Sides Taking Sides

Ronald Harwood (author of The Dresser)

The action takes place in the American Zone of occupied Berlin, in 1946, where the De-Nazification Tribunal has convened to take over the questioning of Wilhelm Furtwangler, one of the outstanding conductors of his time. Furtwangler was at the height of his career in 1933, just as Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. As the terrors of Nazism spread, many of Furtwangler’s colleagues fled the country but Furtwangler chose to stay. Did he stay to do as much good as possible in the face of evil, or did he stay to serve Hitler? The Tribunal's evidence has been prepared firstly by the British, and then taken over by two groups of Americans: one in Wiesbaden which assisted in Furtwangler defense, the other in Berlin which helped build the case against him. Little is known of the motives and methods of this group, which is the focus of Taking Sides. What is known is that Furtwangler was humiliated, pursued and, even after his acquittal, disinformation followed him. This may or may not have been justified-it all depends on the side you take.

Romantic Comedy Romantic Comedy

by Bernard Slade

Arrogant, self centred and sharp tongued Jason Carmichael, successful co-author of Broadway romantic comedies, is facing two momentous events: he is about to marry a society belle and his collaborator is retiring. Enter Phoebe Craddock, mousy Vermont schoolteacher and budding playwright. Presto! Jason acquires a talented and adoring collaborator. Fame and success are theirs for ten years and then Jason's world falls apart. His wife divorces him to go into politics and Phoebe, her love for Jason unrequited, marries a breezy journalist and moves to Paris. Jason goes into professional, financial and physical decline. Re-enter a now chic and successful in her own right Phoebe -- guess the ending!