Photo Flash: TARRAGON THEATRE Presents Michel Tremblay's THE REAL WORLD?

By: BWW News Desk Apr. 30, 2012

Tarragon Theatre presents Michel Tremblay's ground-breaking classic The Real World? in an English translation by John Van Burek and Bill Glassco, which originally premiered at Tarragon almost 25 years ago. The show opens May 2. See photos from the production below!

The final show of Tarragon's 2011-2012 season, The Real World? is directed by the theatre's Artistic Director Richard Rose and is in previews now until its opening May 2. It closes June 3, 2012 in Tarragon Theatre's Mainspace. Tickets range from $20-$51 (inclusive of HST) and are available by calling the box office at 416.531.1827 or by visiting www.tarragontheatre.com.

This new production of The Real World? features Matthew Edison, Cara Gee, Sophie Goulet, Tony Nappo, Cliff Saunders, Jane Spidell and Meg Tilly.

The mother of a precocious young playwright takes issue with his latest play: not only does it put private family matters centre stage, it liberally blends fiction with truth. Should or can playwrights truly "write what they know"? If they use their family members as characters in a play, what happens when those family members object to their theatrical selves? A play within a play, The Real World? remains a ground-breaking work about art, autobiography and authority.

Michel Tremblay has been a dominant figure in Québec theatre since the late 1960s; his plays have been performed around the world. Tarragon has been home to many of his English-language premieres: it has produced 13 of his plays, 10 of which were English-language premieres including - as well as The Real World? - Hosanna, Les Belles-Soeurs and Albertine in Five Times. Tarragon is reviving this Canadian classic nearly 25 years after it premiered in English at Tarragon in 1988.

The Real World? features set and costume design by Charlotte Dean, lighting design by Kevin Fraser, sound design by Emily Porter and stage management by Marinda de Beer.

The show is performed at Tarragon Theatre's Mainspace, 30 Bridgman Avenue, Tuesday-Saturday 8pm, Sunday matinees at 2:30pm, Saturday matinees May 5, 12 and 19 at 2:30pm. Tickets range from $21-$51 (including discounts for students, seniors and groups). For tickets, call the box office at 416.531.1827 or visit www.tarragontheatre.com.