Centaur Theatre Debuts Arthur Holden's THE BOOK OF BOB Tonight

Centaur Theatre presents the world premiere of Arthur Holden's The Book of Bob, a witty and moving contemporary retelling of the Book of Job.

Bob is a middle-aged McGill University professor who works hard, lives green and doesn't own a cellphone or a car. When a female God assails him with a host of misfortunes, his virtuous self-image is rudely shaken. He confronts Her assaults - even though he is an atheist who denies the very existence of God.

Renowned Canadian TV star Ron Lea returns to Centaur Theatre (Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and Brighton Beach Memoirs) to play Bob. The award-winning Lucinda Davis (Intimate Apparel, Doubt, Harlem Duet - 2013 META Award, Outstanding Female Actor) co-stars as a female God who incarnates ten different characters.

"I knew that Arthur Holden wrote the play with Lucinda in mind. I had no qualms whatsoever about casting her in the role. She has the immense talent and depth the role requires, and I am a huge fan of her work. Ron Lea has exquisite timing and deliciously wry comic gifts. He possesses the courage, honesty and intelligence to convey Bob's vulnerabilities with utter truthfulness," says Ellen David, who is making her directorial debut at Centaur Theatre.

Ellen David has starred in The St. Le?onard Chronicles, God of Carnage and other smash hit plays at Centaur Theatre.

"Ellen is a Centaur favourite. Our theatregoers are about to see that she is also a brilliant director, as was demonstrated by her productions of The Leisure Society for Infinitheatre and Intimate Exchanges at Theatre Lac Brome. The staging of Arthur Holden's magnificent The Book of Bob is complex and ingenious. Audiences will be captivated by this unique and stunning multimedia theatrical production," says Roy Surette, Centaur Theatre's Artistic and Executive Director.

A gifted team of designers was selected to support Ellen David's creative vision. "We use centuries-old theatrical conventions blended with state of the art multimedia to bring my vision of Arthur Holden's beautiful and highly personal play The Book of Bob to life. I chose a technical team that could support this dense and layered vision, and I feel blessed to have some of the best individuals possible in design, video, film, music and lighting."

Cinematographer Benoit Beaulieu and videographers George Allister and Patrick Andrew Boivin designed a unique multimedia display that defies categorization. Their images are enhanced by an imaginative hemispheric set and witty costumes created by James Lavoie, Christian Thomas' evocative music and Julien St-Pierre's brilliant lighting design. Stage Manager Melanie St-Jacques is assisted by apprentice Jacynthe Lalonde. Raphae?l Grosz-Harvey is Assistant to the Director.

Arthur Holden's play Father Land won Infinitheatre's very first Pam Dunn Write-On-Q! playwriting contest in 2008. His plays The Book of Bob (2011) and Ars Poetica (2012) were Write-On-Q! finalists.

PRODUCTION DATES:

Previews: Tuesday Feb 4, Wednesday Feb 5 and Thursday Feb 6, 2014 - 8:00PM Opening Night: FRIDAY February 7, 2014 - 8:00PM
Tuesday to Saturday - 8:00PM
Saturday - Sunday Matinees - 2:00PM, Wednesday Matinee - Feb 19 and 26 - 1:00PM Closing Performance - Sunday, March 2, 2014 - 2:00PM

 

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