GCTC Presents Tongue Twisting Show with Swollen Tongues

Swollen Tongues by Kathleen Oliver

Ottawa, ON, Feb 22, 2006 – Swollen Tongues opens at the Great Canadian Theatre Company on Thursday, March 9, 2006 at 8:00 pm. Previews from March 7, 2006.

All is not what it seems in this gender bending, hilarious romp written entirely in rhyming couplets. Swollen Tongues gives Restoration comedy of the 1700s a refreshingly and side-splitting contemporary twist! Four deliciously absurd characters bring the stage to life through the twists and turns of love, lust and convoluted plots and schemes.

Thomas and his sister Catherine are poetry students under the tutelage of Dr. Wise. When Thomas discovers that someone has plagiarized his love verses to Sonja (Catherine’s libidinous dressmaker), Dr. Wise suggests a contest of poetic wits. But Catherine has a secret, and in the ensuing flurry of disguises, tricks and revelations, we discover that poetry can unlock the door to love in unexpected ways.

Swollen Tongues has tickled audience’s funny-bones nationally and internationally. Playwright Kathleen Oliver won the 1997 Canadian National Playwriting Competition for Swollen Tongues, her first play. It has been performed in Vancouver and Toronto, was featured in London, England’s Cochrane Theatre and played across the UK to delighted audiences.

Kathleen Oliver’s other full-length plays include Carol’s Christmas which premiered at the Arts Club Theatre in 2002, and The Family Way, which Touchstone Theatre and the Vancouver East Cultural Centre premiered in May, 2003.

The production features some of Ottawa’s finest actors: Jim Gilbert, Sarah McVie, Maureen Smith and Patricia Tedford.

Swollen Tongues is directed by Ottawa favourite Kate Hurman, Set and costumes are designed by one of Canada’s most exciting young designers, Lorenzo Savoini. Lorenzo was one of ten artists selected to join Soulpepper’s prestigious Academy programme. Lighting design by Rebecca Picherack and the stage managed by Kevin Waghorn.

Swollen Tongues previews March 7 and 8, opens Thursday, March 9, and runs until March 26.

Previews: $20
Matinees: $20
Weekday Evenings: $31
Weekend Evenings: $34

*Remember, a $2 surcharge is added to the price of every ticket, with proceeds going to our Making it Greater Capital Campaign.

Media Call: Photo and video media are invited to attend our media call, Wednesday, March 1, 2:30 to 4:00 pm. Individual time slots will be booked during this 90-minute period. Slots fill up quickly. If you would like to attend, please call Adam Stephens at (613) 236-5192, ext. 229.

GCTC Box Office: 236-5196
Monday – Friday, Noon - 6:30 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
www.gctc.ca

For media information, contact Adam Stephens at (613) 236-5192, ext. 229, or via e-mail at publicity@gctc.ca
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