Previews begin at the Shaw Festival for Somerset Maugham’s glittering comedy The Circle

Arnold Champion-Cheney, MP (David Jansen) is a successful politician with a beautiful wife, Elizabeth (Moya O’Connell). They live an ordered, respectable married life, utterly in keeping with the social expectations of England’s upper classes. This comes to an abrupt halt, however, with a visit from Arnold’s mother, Lady Kitty (Wendy Thatcher), who left her husband (David Schurmann) for her lover (Michael Ball) many years ago, creating an enormous scandal. When a young visitor (Gray Powell) declares his love for Elizabeth, she faces the same choice Lady Kitty did. Will she repeat the mistakes of the past or will the circle be broken?

As in our recent hit The Constant Wife, Maugham explores, with wit and wisdom, the compromises and bargains that seem so necessary to married life, while wondering if love can ever really be enough.

Successful as both a novelist and playwright, early in his career Maugham wrote a number of popular comedic plays – so popular that he was the first playwright ever to have four plays running simultaneously in London in 1908. In the 1920s, with plays like The Circle and The Constant Wife, Maugham began to focus more on social issues and the serious aspects of relationships. The Circle, with its comic structure of two love triangles and the rich individuality of its characters, is considered the finest of Maugham’s 32 plays.

The cast also includes Deborah Hay as Anna, Al Kozlik and Ken James Stewart.

The Circle is directed by The Shaw’s Associate Director Neil Munro, with design by Christina Poddubiuk and lighting design by Louise Guinand. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Meredith Macdonald and Assistant Stage Manager Barry Burns.

The Circle began preview performances Tuesday, April 10; opens Thursday, May 10; and plays in repertory until Sunday, October 28.

The 2007 season is proudly presented by HSBC Bank Canada/HSBC Bank USA.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com for other Shaw Festival media releases.
For more information, or to download pictures from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:
Odette Yazbeck
Director, Public Relations
905-468-2153 or
1-800-657-1106 ext 222
odette@shawfest.com


Patti Broughton
Public Relations Co-ordinator
905-468-2153 or
1-800-657-1106 ext 224
pbroughton@shawfest.com