Lust is Necessary as Necessary Angel Theatre Company
presents the Toronto premiere of the award-winning Swollen Tongues - Written by Kathleen Oliver, Directed by Richard Rose

Necessary Angel Theatre Company is pleased to present Swollen Tongues, winner of the 1997 Canadian National Playwriting Competition, by Vancouver’s Kathleen Oliver. First produced in Vancouver in 1998, after which it went on to be produced in London, England (Cochrane Theatre, 2000) and then tour the UK (April-May 2002), Swollen Tongues is written entirely in rhyming couplets and gives Restoration comedy a contemporary twist. Necessary Angel’s founding and outgoing Artistic Director Richard Rose directs the Toronto premiere of this sensuous and playful romp that previews from October 19, opens October 24 and runs to November 10 at Factory Studio Theatre.

Rose has assembled a stellar cast for this bold and charming theatrical comedy: Ben Carlson, (Dora Award for DVxT’s The Doll House, numerous Shaw Festival credits) as Thomas, Karen Hines (Mirvish’s Drowsy Chaperone, Pochsy) as Catherine, Melody Johnson (Necessary Angel’s The Piper, Tarragon’s Well) as Sonja; and Nancy Palk (numerous Soulpepper and other credits) as Alex. Set and costumes are designed by David Boechler; lighting is designed by Melinda Sutton and Kathryn Westoll is the stage manager.

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 (and lust) in unexpected ways.

“Delightful … embroiling Shakespearean gender-bending, Molière-esque rapier thrusts of comic verse and a ‘Cyrano’-style faith in the powers of wooing by proxy.” Time Out (London) – Critics’ Choice

“Smart, funny, provocative and never ever tongue-tied...fresh and inventive...Move over, Molière, as Oliver easily adapts Restoration-era sensibilities to the most modern of stories.... Oliver’s script is a marvel of tongue twisters about the classic link between art and love”
The Vancouver Sun – Peter Birnie

“...a flurry of cross-dressing, mistaken identity and furious word play. Oliver takes great delight in upending the conventions of the form,tossing in modern phrases alongside the more formal language of the period…” The Globe and Mail – Chris Dafoe

“fresh and original … oozes female sensuality.” The Pink Paper (London)

Swollen Tongues is Kathleen Oliver’s first play. She recently co-wrote the scripts for FIRE..where there’s smoke for DanceArts Vancouver (October 2001) and King Llyr for the Leaky Heaven Circus (May 2002). Upcoming projects include Carol’s Christmas, a contemporary twist on Dickens, to be produced by the Arts Club Theatre in December; The Family Way, a comedy about expectant exes, to be produced by Touchstone Theatre and the Vancouver East Cultural Centre in May 2003; and a new play commissioned by the Vancouver Playhouse and inspired by the life of Colette. She teaches Creative Writing at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, and is the BC representative for the Playwrights Union of Canada.

Richard Rose has directed most of the company's productions since 1978 including The Piper, Inexpressible Island, Seven Lears (Dora Mavor Moore Award), Three in the Back, Two in the Head (Governor-General's Award for Drama), Glenn and Not Wanted on the Voyage. He has recently been appointed Artistic Director of Tarragon Theatre.

Necessary Angel Theatre Company presents Swollen Tongues
Previews from October 19, opens October 24 and runs to November 10 at Factory Studio Theatre, 125 Bathurst St. BOX OFFICE: 416-504-9971.

Performances and prices:
Previews October 19-23:
All previews are $9.99.
Saturday October 19 at 8pm, Sunday October 20 at 7pm, Tuesday October 22 at 8pm, Wednesday October 23 at 8pm.
Regular Run from Thursday, October 24 on:
Tuesday - Thursday at 8pm $22;
Friday at 8pm $26;
Saturday at 8pm $30;
Saturday at 2:30 pm $22 (N.B. No Saturday matinee on Oct. 26);
Sunday at 2:30 pm PWYC or $22 advance;
($3 off for students, seniors and Equity artists excepting previews, group rates also available.)

Necessary Angel Theatre Company gratefully acknowledges the support of our many partners and supporters including the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Bank of Montreal (Production Sponsor), du Maurier Arts (Production Sponsor), Butterfield & Robinson (New Play Development Sponsor), Globe & Mail (Major Media Sponsor), Xtra Magazine (Media Sponsor) George Cedric Metcalfe Foundation, Laidlaw Foundation, Maritime Life Assurance (Major Educational Development Partner), Zero 1 Media Arts (Marketing & Design Sponsor), Meade Graphics (Print Sponsor), J.P. Bickell Foundation, Sun Life, The Caring Foundation, INCO Ltd., and CFT Corporation.

For more information about Necessary Angel or its 2002/03 Season, call 416.703.0406 for our Season Brochure, or visit the new website www.necessaryangel.com