Belfry Theatre VENUS IN FUR by David Ives November 11 – December 14, 2014 The Belfry Theatre presents Venus In Fur By David Ives Starring Vincent Gale Thomas Celine Stubel Vanda Director Michael Shamata Set and Costume Designer Christina Poddubiuk Lighting Designer Ereca Hassell Composer and Sound Designer Tobin Stokes Stage Manager Jennifer Swan Apprentice Stage Manager Sandra Drag Assistant Director Chari Arespacochaga Originally produced by Classic Stage Company, (Brian Kulick, Artistic Director, Jessica R. Jene, Executive Director). Originally produced on Broadway by the Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) by special arrangement with Jon B. Platt, Scott Landis, and Classic Stage Company, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on October 13, 2011. The use of video or audio recording devices is strictly prohibited at all times. Venus in Fur is generously sponsored by The Belfry Theatre is a registered Canadian charity, 11921 5549 RR0001. The Belfry Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. The Belfry Theatre is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, USA. Please enjoy the performance. Belfry Theatre Staff Board of Directors Venue Technician Ben Burrow Dr. Monty Bryant Box Office/ Front of House Jane Broomfield Georgia Gibbs B4Play Audio Technician Ben Brysiuk Dr. Andrew Karwowski Marketing & Development Helen Lansdowne Associate Aaron Carveth Wendy Magahay Production Manager Alex Currie Andy Stephenson Marketing & Communications Robert Thomson, CA Director Mark Dusseault Bob Tyrrell Box Office Manager Casey Fitterer Box Office Clerk Jenny Fitterer Honorary Board of Directors Box Office/ Front of House Sarah Fitterer Chair Emeritus Patrick Stewart Assistant Box Office Manager Ian Gibson Sherri Bird Front of House Manager Tara Gilroy-Scott Barbara Greeniaus Executive Director Ivan Habel Robert Johnston Q.C. Facilities Supervisor & Head John Keay Technician Keith Houghton Joan Snowden Scenic Artist Carole Klemm Dr. Brian Winsby Head of Wardrobe Karen Levis Michael Ziegler Artistic Associate & Outreach Coordinator Erin Macklem Special Thanks Financial Officer Patricia O'Brien Croy & Co. Stage Lighting Head of Props Peter Pokorny Shaw Festival Master Carpenter Dale Pudwell Artistic Director Michael Shamata Belfry Theatre Scenic Painter/ Custodian Lara Shepard 1291 Gladstone Avenue Technical Director Gregory Smith Victoria, British Columbia Development Manager Susan Stevenson Canada, V8T 1G5 Box Office Clerk Morgan Sutherland Stage Manager Jennifer Swan 250-385-6815 Box Office Associate Artist Deborah Williams 250-385-6835 Administration Box Office Clerk Eryn Yaromy 250-385-6336 Facsimile www.belfry.bc.ca Belfry Support Staff Graphic Designer Jane Francis Charitable donation number Photographers David Cooper 11921 5549 RR0001 Jo-Ann Richards Peter Pokorny Programme Advertising Belfry 101 Co-coordinator Dave Morris Design and Production Additional Crew Nicole Lamb Victoria Arts Marketing Frank Morin P.O.Box 8629 Simon Farrow Victoria V8W 3S2 Brian Culp 250.382.6188 Craig Alfredson Email: [email protected] Belfry Leadership www.vicarts.com Training Program Adam Djilali Publishers Philomena Hanson Emma Minto Paul Hanson Sandy Traulman Design/Production Lyn Quan Bravo to the Belfry for staging relevant and sophisticated drama. Carole James, MLA Victoria-Beacon Hill tel: 250.952.4211 Community Office [email protected] 1084 Fort Street www.carolejamesmla.ca BOOK AND LYRICS BY Alan Jay Lerner MUSIC BY Frederick Loewe ORIGINAL PRODUCTION DIRECTED AND STAGED BY Moss Hart BASED ON The Once and Future King by T.H. White Audience Information Cellphones & Pagers the Please turn off your cellphones and pagers when you enter the theatre. If you need to be contacted in an emergency, please fernwood leave your name and seat number with our House Manager. inn Latecomers & Re-admission The Director of each production designates moments in the show when the seating of latecomers will cause the least amount of weekly specials distraction for actors and audience members. Should you leave the theatre, our House Manager will not be able to reseat you until Tuesdays one of these breaks. burgerburger & beer $10.95$9.95 Babes in Arms Fully loaded bacon cheddar burger The Belfry is proud to produce adult or our famous veggie burger contemporary theatre. Our productions with a pint of Fernwood Lager are not suitable for children 10 and under, including babes in arms. Recording Devices No cameras or recording devices are Thursdays permitted in the theatre. wingwing night $5.99 afterafter 8pm Roasted garlic & honey, Audience Advisories / Running Times Frank’s hot or whiskey barbeque We make every effort to advise you of strong language, subject matter or extreme technical effects (strobe lights, fog). Please look for signs at the entrances to the theatre. Saturdays Advisories and running times are available at the Box Office as of the first preview. & Sundays Food & Drinks brunchbrunch onon the weekends Please feel free to take only food and/or 11:30am - 2pm drinks you've purchased from the Belfry bar into the theatre. Our goodies are packaged so that they don't make a lot of noise and PLUS....try our NEW disturb your fellow audience members. amazing menu items Perfume & Cologne Please refrain from using perfume and cologne when you come to the theatre. RESERVATIONS: Some of our patrons are highly allergic 250 412 2001 to scents. HOURS: Electronic Cigarettes TUESDAY ~ SATURDAY Please refrain from using electronic cigarettes 11:30am - 12 midnight in the theatre, to avoid distraction for other patrons and the Artists on stage. SUNDAY ~ MONDAY 11:30am - 10:00pm Thank you for your consideration. Enjoy the performance. Children welcome! Artistic Director's Notes Welcome back to the Belfry! I hope you were one of the many thousands of happy patrons who were moved to laughter and tears by our beautiful production of Tomson Highway’s The Rez Sisters. We move now from that celebration of powerful female energy to a male-female power struggle. The most produced play in North America last season, and nominated for the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play, Venus in Fur stirs up a delicious tension between the sexes. It is my great pleasure to welcome back to the Belfry two of my very favourite actors: Celine Stubel and Vincent Gale. They played a married couple in Glynis Leyshon’s production of God of Carnage, and Celine has also been seen here in And Slowly Beauty, A Christmas Carol and – unforgettably – Glynis’s production of Proud last season. Vince starred here in Stones in His Pockets, The Cryptogram and as Henry in Tom Stoppard’s brilliant play The Real Thing. Working with the two of them on this smart and funny play has been nothing short of a treat. David Ives has created a hilarious and unpredictable roller coaster ride – I hope you enjoy every twist and turn! With best wishes – THERE’S ‘XMAS’ AND THEN THERE’S CHRISTMAS. CELEBRATE THE REAL ONE HERE. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM A CHRISTMAS CAROL Featuring Jason Steven Starts December 4 LIVE SEASONAL MUSIC Starts December 6 CHILDREN’S STORIES Starts December 4 1050 JOAN CRESCENT 250.592.5323 Stories so big they have to be sung! 2014/2015 OPERA SEASON Donizetti LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR FEBRUARY 12, 14, 18, 20, 22/2015 The Royal Theatre Puccini MADAMA BUTTERFLY APRIL 9, 11, 15, 17, 19/2015 The Royal Theatre Great seats as low as $25 2 opera package Starting at just $42 For both operas! Opera tickets make great Christmas gifts CALL 250.385.0222 WWW.POV.BC.CA Director's Notes David Ives’ Venus in Fur is a deceptive play; it is not what it first appears to be, and that is a conscious part of the playwright’s modus operandi. In 1870, Austrian author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch published a novel entitled Venus in Furs. Based largely on Sacher-Masoch’s own life, the novel deals with female dominance and sadomasochism (in fact, the term “masochism” comes from Sacher-Masoch’s name). In David Ives’ play Venus in Fur, the male character, Thomas, has written Celine Stubel and Vincent Gale in rehearsal. an adaptation of the Sacher-Masoch novel, and he has just spent eight hours auditioning young actresses for the female lead. David Ives’ play Venus in Fur, however, is not an adaptation of the Sacher-Masoch novel. Ives’ play is a taut and funny examination of the power imbalance between men and women. Ever since we stopped being a matriarchal society and became a patriarchal society, woman’s role has been diminished and there has been a systemic inequality between the sexes. That is what interests David Ives, and that inequality is the engine that drives his play. 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