NORTH BY NORTHWEST to Make Canadian Premiere This Autumn at the Royal Alexandra Theatre

A stunning new stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's famous North By Northwest is set to receive its North American premiere at the Royal Alexandra Theatre as one of the most innovative productions ever to be staged when it appears from September 19 - October 29.

Every twist, every thrill, every hairbreadth escape from Hitchcock's supreme comedy of suspense is retained in this unmissable theatrical spectacular in which the magic of film and theatre collide live on stage.

Using a combination of cinematic green-screen techniques, video projection, scale models and good old-fashioned theatrical magic, Roger Thornhill's race from spies, Feds, a crop-dusting plane and the inevitable mysterious blonde is brought thrillingly to life in a seamless blend of live film and live performance.

Roger O. Thornhill (the role played in the film by Cary Grant) is a suave and successful advertising executive, abducted by thugs who insist he is a man called George Kaplan. There's obviously been a mix up. When they don't believe him, that's infuriating. When they try to kill him, that's frightening. And when they pin a murder on him, then it's time to run!

Thornhill is chased from New York to North Dakota in this lightning paced thriller that mixes glamour with espionage in a truly irresistible cocktail - three years before James Bond first hit the silver screen came North by Northwest in 1959.

Leading the cast as Roger Thornhill is Canadian star of stage and screen, Jonathan Watton, whose recent screen credits include David Cronenberg's Map to the Stars, Murdoch Mysteries, Good God for HBO Canada, and CBC's Don Cherry: Grapes of Wrath. He is joined by Gerald Kyd (Casualty, Cold Feet, Sherlock, Silent Witness) as sophisticated spy and evil ringleader, Vandamm, the role originally played by James Mason. Abigail McKern (Rumpole of the Bailey, The Night Manager, Bonkers) plays Roger's well-meaning, meddling mother, Mrs Thornhill, and Olivia Fines (Singin' in the Rain, The Producers and Grease) playing the role of Eva Kendall along with an incredible Ensemble which includes Joanna van Kampen, Angus Brown, Christopher Chilton, Tom Davey, Kieran Gough, Nick Harris, Nick Sampson and Roddy Peters.

Adapted for the stage by Carolyn Burns and directed by Simon Phillips, North By Northwest received its World Premiere in Melbourne in 2015. The production is currently onstage at Theatre Royal Bath before making its transatlantic transfer to the Royal Alexandra Theatre in September.

By special arrangements with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, originally produced by Kay and McLean Productions in association with Melbourne Theatre Company.

IF YOU GO:

NORTH BY NORTHWEST

September 19 - October 29, 2017

Performance Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday at 8:00 PM
Wednesday at 1:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM
Added show: Nov 5 at 7:30 PM
No performance Oct 31

At Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. West, Toronto

Tickets available online at mirvish.com
By phone 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333
In-person at the theatre box office

Photo Credit: Jeff Busby