Stylish social comedy Our Betters at the Shaw Festival

 

“If one wants to be successful in London, one must either have looks, wit, or a bank balance.”

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario -- Playing now at the Shaw Festival’s 52^nd season is W. Somerset Maugham’s glittering satire Our Betters at the Royal George Theatre.

 Morris Panych brings his usual directorial panache to this brilliant “take no prisoners” portrait of marriage — where English estates and titled aristocracy are bought with the traditional “I do” and a large American dowry. Longtime collaborators Ken MacDonald and Charlotte Dean design the sets and costumes, respectively.

When pretty young American Bessie Saunders travels to London to stay with her sister Pearl, now the sophisticated and worldly Lady Grayston, she is introduced to women of wealth who have also successfully made the marriage-for-status transaction.

It doesn’t take long for Bessie to discover the high price paid for ambition, while witnessing first-hand the desperate measures and outrageous strategies all must make to advance their cause. The question Maugham ultimately raises with his wicked wit is who is really better off here — the haves, the have-nots or neither?

The Shaw’s production of Our Betters features Claire Jullien as Lady Grayston, Julia Course as Bessie Saunders, Catherine McGregor as Princess Flora della Cercola and Wade Bogert-O’Brien as Fleming Harvey. Returning this season is Laurie Paton as Minnie, the Duchesse de Surennes.

Our Betters is the third Maugham work to appear at the Festival, continuing the cycle successfully launched with The Circle in 2007 and The Constant Wife in 2005.

About Our Betters

Until October 27

Our Betters is on stage at the Royal George Theatre (85 Queen Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake)

Cast: Neil Barclay                                        Anthony Bekenn                                Wade Bogert-O’Brien                         Julia Course                                        Charlie Gallant                                   Claire Jullien                                       Lorne Kennedy                                   Catherine McGregor                          Laurie Paton                                       James Pendarves                                Ben Sanders                                       Creative Team: Morris Panych                                     Ken MacDonald                                  Charlotte Dean                                   Alan Brodie                                        Diane Konkin                                      Leigh McClymont

Thornton Clay Pole Fleming Harvey Elizabeth (Bessie) Saunders Anthony (Tony) Paxton Lady Grayston (Pearl) Arthur Fenwick Princess della Cercola (Flora) Duchesse de Surennes (Minnie) Ernest Lord Bleane Director Set Design Costume Design Lighting Design Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager

The Shaw Festival’s 2013 season begins April 3 runs until October 27 and features 10 productions presented on the Festival’s four Niagara-on-the-Lake stages. For more information on our 2013 season, performance schedule and ticket information, please visit www.shawfest.com or call 1-800-511-SHAW.

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The Shaw Festival is a theatre company inspired by the work of Bernard Shaw. We produce plays from and about his era and contemporary plays that share Shaw’s provocative exploration of society and celebration of humanity.