Peer Gynt

Henrik Ibsen's adventure about the legendary Peer Gynt of Norwegian folklore
Adapted by Brian Richmond

The story follows the illegitimate and harum scarum Peer as a youth; in and out of scrapes in his home village where he lives with his long-suffering mother Aase. His easy charm easily seduces girls. He meets some of the Trolls that live in the mountain, witnesses extreme debauchery there and get embroiled with an (ugly and green) Troll princess. He sees the virtuous Solveig, is outlawed, builds a home for Solveig, doesn’t seduce her and goes to seek his fortune after the death of his mother. Peer is a young man who has great potential as an artist but who is constantly at war with his physical desires. He goes through life thinking quite well of himself, although there is not much substance in his personality. Peer is an adventurer who makes and loses fortunes in America, Africa and meets the captivating dancing Anitra in Arabia. Returning home Peer encounters the Button-Molder, the figure of death, but finds redemption through the love of his patient Solveig.

Guest Director: Brian Richmond
Set Designer: Allan Stichbury
Costume Designer: Mary Kerr
Guest Lighting Designer: Robert Thomson
Guest Composer/Sound Designer: John Mills-Cockell
Movement Coach: Peter Balkwill
Dramaturge: Monica Prendergast
Clown Director and Consulting: Shannan Calcutt
Stage Manager: Jay Bennett

Cast: Ryan Arnold, Kate Braidwood, Jeff Bryant, Michael Copley, Annette Dreeshen, Alexander Ferguson, Leslie Aimée Gottlieb, Melissa Halstrom, Jay Hindle, Katie Hood, Kate Humble, David Kopp, Theodora Lamb, Ben Lawrence, Tom Middleditch, Devon Pipars, Mitch Pollock, Katie Siney, Zachary Stevenson, Jeff Stubbs, Celine Stubel, Allison Ward, Chad Wood, Jan Wood (Faculty), and Melissa Young.

March 14 - 30, 2002
Matinee - Saturday, March 30- 2pm
Pre-Show Lecture - March 15- 7pm
Dinner Theatre Evening - March 19

---

MEDIA REVIEWS

“But a sweeping story such as this is ideal as a learning vehicle, stretching the talents of the whole theatre department. The Phoenix Theatre is hardly predictable, presenting ambitious productions that you won’t see anywhere else. If you want to see a Neil Simon revival, there are plenty of opportunities elsewhere for that artistically bland entertainment. If you want to be challenged, check out the Phoenix.”

- Adrian Chamberlain, Times Colonist

“I think Richmond’s strength lies in his ability to produce consistently strong performances from every member of the large cast. Any time you bring two dozen actors together you will have lesser and greater performers but he ‘eliminates the negative’ as the old song goes and manages to give everyone at least a moment in the sun.”

-Robert Mitchell, CBC Reviewer

“To say the Phoenix Theatre’s newest production of Henryk Ibsen’s Peer Gynt is visually stunning would be an understatement. No adjective less than astounding could possibly do it justice. The jaw-dropping set and astonishingly realized visual effects exemplify the towering creative genius of the design team.”

- Al Newton, Martlet

“To its credit though this is a lovely-looking show. Visually rich and sonically lush, the real stars of this production are the design team: Mary Kerr’s costumes (notably the trolls), Robert Thomson’s atmospheric lighting, Allan Stichbury’s rope-and-ramp set (especially effective in the shipwreck scene), John Mills-Cockell’s Nyman-esque sound design and Peter Balkwill’s movement coaching are almost worth the price of admission alone.”

- John Threlfall, Monday Magazine