Pleiades Theatre presents Manon, Sandra and the Virgin Mary

Pleiades Theatre presents Manon, Sandra and the Virgin Mary by Michel Tremblay. Translated and directed by John Van Burek, this extraordinary work will be presented at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre from January 11 to February 2, 2014. It opens on Wednesday, January 15.

Manon, Sandra and the Virgin Mary is a poetic, provocative exploration of the sacred and the profane as found in the gritty realities of Tremblay's east-end Montréal and in the soaring, lyrical imagination of the playwright who is, without doubt, Canada's greatest. Written in 1977, this masterpiece of elegant simplicity and daring, explosive emotions is rarely seen in production. Originally titled Damnée Manon, Sacrée Sandra, Tremblay wrote this play to end his first great cycle of works for the stage, which included Les Belles-soeurs, Forever Yours, Marie-Lou, Hosanna, Bonjour, là, Bonjour and St. Carmen of the Main.

The aggressively pious Manon and the outrageously worldly Sandra are characters who played important but secondary roles in some of those earlier plays (Marie-Lou, Hosanna and St. Carmen). Now, united in their fascination with the Virgin Mary but having no further reason to exist, Tremblay has them speak to us in parallel monologues in which their sacred and profane natures meet and cross over, as he liberates them from the confines of the worlds in which they lived.

Manon, Sandra and the Virgin Mary, which boasts two of Canada's finest actors, Irene Poole and Richard McMillan in the title roles, will be the first Michel Tremblay play ever produced at Buddies in Bad Times.

Directed by John Van Burek; Starring Irene Poole and Richard McMillan; Set & Costumes by Teresa Przybylski; Lighting by Itai Erdal; Composer, Debashis Sinha.

Manon, Sandra and the Virgin Mary

By Michel Tremblay | Directed by John Van Burek

January 11 to February 2

Opening: January 15th at 8 PM | Previews: Jan. 11th & 14th at 8 PM | Jan. 12 at 2 PM

Performances: Tuesday - Saturday at 8pm | Sunday at 2:30pm

Tickets: Previews: $20.00 | Tuesday-Thursday: (Under 30 & Artsworker) $27; (Regular) $32 | Rush Tickets: limited number at the door, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, as of noon on day of performance $20 | Friday & Saturday: (Under 30 & Artsworkers) $31; (Regular) $37 | Sunday, advance booking: (Under 30 & Artsworkers) $27; (Regular) $32; at the door, PAY WHAT YOU CAN | Groups (10+) Rates available

Box Office: 416.975.8555 or www.buddiesinbadtimes.com

Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann