The Secret in the Wings
by Mary Zimmerman
Imagination and Adventure Await!
The University of Winnipeg’s Department of Theatre and Film presents
The Secret in the Wings by Mary Zimmerman
Tuesday, February 14 – Saturday, February 18 7:30 pm
Asper Centre for Theatre and Film
400 Colony Street (enter from Balmoral St)
(see below for content warning; please note this show is not appropriate for children)
Performed by the Acting III: Honours class, directed by faculty member Hope McIntyre, set and costumes designed by THFM design students and supported by THFM production students, this inventive exploration of lesser-known fairy tales confronts our fears and discovers the power of kindness with humour and wit. Using the playwright’s analogy of playing in the backyard as children, the actors’ imaginations run wild to bring these stories to life with narration, movement, song, and visual imagery.
“Storytelling is innate to us as human beings and in this production, we celebrate creativity by using the amazing talents of the cast," says McIntyre. "The actors each play multiple characters with the enthusiasm of children playing dress-up.”
Zimmerman is an acclaimed American writer and director of theatre specializing in the adaptation of classic stories of world literature for the stage. In an interview, she shared: “I start a show with no script, but I start with a group of actors, an opening date, and a set design. I think that something is inevitable in my process.” She is known for plays that are described as visual poetry due to their incorporation of vivid storytelling. Her play Metamorphosis won Drama Desk awards for Outstanding Play and Direction in 2002, and she also won an Outer Critics Circle and Tony Award for Direction of the same play. She teaches Performance Studies at Northwestern University.
In the foreword to the script, the playwright shares a quote from poet Rainer Maria Rilke: “Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.”
The University of Winnipeg’s production features costume design by student Amelia Carlson, set design by student Shy Pattie, and lighting design by professional Larry Isacoff. All technical work is done by both junior and senior production students.
The Secret in the Wings runs Tuesday, February 14 through Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 pm each evening. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended.
24-Hour Telephone Reservations: 204-786-9152
MATURE CONTENT WARNING: Drawing on fairy tales that explore difficult material, many challenging subjects are alluded to in the production. These include murder, incest, cannibalism, and suggestions of predatory behaviour. This show is not appropriate for children. ALSO: Flashing Lights.