IT'S ALL TRUE
by Jason Sherman
Broadway, 1937. A young genius named Orson Welles is the toast of the New
York theatre, following groundbreaking productions of Dr. Faustus and a
voodoo version of Macbeth. He's about to follow these up with The Cradle
Will Rock, a new left-wing opera for the Federal Theatre Project. But, on
the first night, the US government have withdrawn their support, and locked
the company out of the theatre. Can they find another venue? And what got
them to this situation?
Jason Sherman is one of Canada's leading playwrights. His other work
includes The League of Nathans, Patience, (seen at the Finborough Theatre in
2005) and Reading Hebron (Orange Tree, 2011). He has received the Governor
General's Award for Drama, and the Chalmers Canadian Play Award, twice.
It's All True tells the story of Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock and
its legendary first night when Welles, and his producer John Houseman,
walked their audience to a newly-hired theatre and the cast, banned from the
stage by union rules, sat in the auditorium, standing to speak or sing their
parts. This performance led to the formation of the Mercury Theatre, and
Welles' later sensations on radio with War of the Worlds and in the cinema
with Citizen Kane. It's All True is a play about idealism, expediency and
the necessity of art, and what happens when a politically engaged composer
entrusts his work to a young meteor on his way to fame.
The play is directed by David Cottis, who has directed at the Finborough
Theatre, Catford Broadway and the White Bear, most recently The Lady of
Pleasure by James Shirley. His short opera She Stops at Costa's is
currently a finalist in the English National Opera's Mini-Opera's
competition. Design is by Andy Robinson, whose most recent work at the
White Bear was Ayn Rand's The Night of January 16th.
"Sherman has created a titillating, tabloid-style glimpse at an intersection
of art, government and outsized personalities that punctures all egos; a
crisp and manic...juggernaut that sweeps one along in its portrayal of a
colorful and famous dramatis personae."
-Jonathan Abarbanel, Windy City Times, Chicago
Directed by David Cottis.
Designed by Andy Robinson.
Music by Don Horsburgh and Jonathan Cohen.
Lighting by Mathew Breslin.
The cast includes Ian Mairs as Marc Blitzstein, returning to the White Bear
after Mummies and Daddies in 2010, Sam Child, Robert Durbin, Edward Elgood,
Elizabeth Guterbock and Loriel Medynski.
Performance Dates:
14th August - 9th September
Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm, Sunday at 6pm
Tickets: £14 (£10 Conc.) but only £10 to Kennington Association Members
Box Office:
Online Booking: www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk
<http://www.whitebeartheatre.
co.uk/>
Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/
White-Bear-Theatre/
108903865805670?ref=search
White Bear Theatre
138 Kennington Park Road
SE11 4DJ
2 minutes walk from Kennington Tube (Northern Line)
Buses: 133, 155, 196, 333, 415
SPECIAL OFFER
The White Bear Theatre Club is offering concession rate to all Kennington
Association members. That's only £10 per ticket!
To book call and quote 'Kennington Association Offer'.
The White Bear now has it's own Exclusive Lounge Area where patrons can sit
and enjoy a drink and a chat before the show. The theatre itself is fully
air conditioned and is now thoroughly soundproofed from the pub.
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