W.S. Gilbert's ENGAGED Begins Previews as Part of Shaw Festival Tomorrow

Curated from deep in the heart of the Shaw Festival's mandate period, Engaged is a hilarious romp through the Scottish countryside where love triangles abound. Written by W.S. Gilbert before his renowned partnership with Arthur Sullivan, Engaged comically comments on the façade of Victorian life, with particular satirical attention on the obsession with wealth. This romantic comedy begins its first engagement at the Royal George Theatre tomorrow, June 15.

Director Morris Panych and his design team fashions an 1800s with distinctly contemporary touches. The set by Ken MacDonald is inspired by eighteenth to twentieth century works of botanical artistry - turning the Royal George Theatre stage into an enchanting dreamlike garden. Charlotte Dean's costumes take gorgeous liberties with past and present, while delighting in the outrageous throughout. Adding to this is Alan Brodie's lighting design and Ryan deSouza's original music.

An English train is derailed in Scotland forcing its passengers to stay the night in a nearby cottage. One of the passengers - a wealthy bachelor named Cheviot Hill (Gray Powell) is prone to proposing to beautiful women - so much so that his friend Belvawney (Jeff Meadows) has the sole duty of disentangling his friend from these engagements. Despite Belvawney's efforts, Cheviot still finds himself betrothed to three women: Minnie Symperson (Diana Donnelly), a London debutante; Maggie Mcfarlane (Julia Course), a Highland lass; and Belinda Treherne (Nicole Underhay), a socialite on the run. When the status of Cheviot's fortune comes into question, so too does the women's love for him.

The Shaw Festival's production of Engaged also features the talents of Matthew Finlan, Mary Haney, Martin Happer, Claire Jullien, Ric Reid and Shawn Wright.

Engaged is on stage at the Royal George Theatre (85 Queen St., Niagara-on-the-Lake) from June 15 to October 23 (opening June 24).

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