To Be or Not To Be at Papermill Theatre

Toronto Film School’s Christopher Sawchyn has long desired to direct a Russian comedy on stage, so when he chanced upon Miriam Laurence’s To Be or Not To Be, he knew it was, in fact, meant to be.

“I fell in love with this story that explores the danger of celebrity and the lure of political power,” he said of Laurence’s translation of Nikolai Erdman’s 1928 play The Suicide, which is regarded as one of the finest plays to have come out of Communist Russia.

“She’s expertly crafted the humour, nuance and characters in a such a relatable way to an English-speaking audience, and it works well for a class of young actors.”

“I love to collaborate when creating art and this gaggle of multi-skilled students have been willing to experiment with me,” he added, noting that it didn’t hurt to have both a Ukrainian dancer and a Russian-speaking actor amongst the members of his cast.

To Be or Not To Be, which is stage managed by Cobourn Sands, will take to the stage at the Papermill Theatre for a three-performance run on Dec. 20, 21 and 23 as follows:

- Tuesday, June 18 at 7 p.m.

- Wednesday, June 19 at 9 p.m.

- Thursday, June 20 at 7 p.m.

The Papermill Theatre is located at Todmorden Mills, 67 Pottery Rd. Tickets are free and available at the door.