My Night With Reg

16 17 Season

My Night With Reg Poster

By Kevin Elyot
Directed by Joel Greenberg

David Mirvish presents a Studio 180 Theatre production

February 10–26, 2017

Panasonic Theatre
651 Yonge St, Toronto

At Guy’s London flat, old friends and new gather to party through the night. This is the summer of 1985, and for Guy and his circle the world is about to change forever. Deliciously funny and bittersweet, My Night With Reg captures the fragility of friendship, happiness and life itself. A tragic-comic gay comedy of manners, Kevin Elyot’s Olivier Award–winning play has been hailed by critics and audiences alike, confirming its status as a classic of modern British theatre.

A CANADIAN PREMIERE

Written by Kevin Elyot
Directed by Joel Greenberg
Assistant Directed by Terri Hawkes
Featuring Tim Funnell, Alex Furber, Martin Happer, Jeff Miller, Gray Powell, and Jonathan Wilson
Stage Managed by Laura Baxter
Assistant Stage Managed by Bradley Dunn
Sound Designed by Garth Helm
Lighting Designed by Kimberly Purtell
Props by Mary Spyrakis
Set and Costumes Designed by John Thompson

British drama doesn’t get better than this.

Evening Standard

Gallery

Gray Powell and Jeff Miller in My Night With Reg. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
Jonathan Wilson and Jeff Miller in My Night With Reg. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
Jonathan Wilson, Jeff Miller, Gray Powell and Alex Furber in Gray Powell and Jeff Miller in My Night With Reg. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
Gray Powell and Martin Happer in My Night With Reg. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
Alex Furber in My Night With Reg. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
Alex Furber and Gray Powell in My Night With Reg. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
Jeff Miller and Gray Powell in My Night With Reg. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
Gray Powell and Jeff Miller in My Night With Reg. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Reviews

Director Joel Greenberg and his excellent cast… convey both the superficial fun and the deeper fear of these characters with a high degree of nuance and detail.

Stage Door ★★★★☆

My Night With Reg is a delicate yet chilling play about the early days of the AIDS epidemic but is timeless because of its handling of male relationships. The production is stylish, beautifully acted, and moving.

Slotkin Letter

What could be a sex farce at first transforms, almost against its will, into a more poignant play… The horror of the AIDS pandemic is the backdrop to the action, but the inability of these characters to speak about what’s in their hearts is what is truly tragic.

Globe and Mail ★★★☆

Think of Kevin Elyot’s 1994 play My Night With Reg as The Big Chill meets The Normal Heart. It has the fashion and friendship dynamics of the former, with the life-and-death stakes and profound sense of loss to the AIDS epidemic found in the latter – though it skips The Normal Heart’s activism and overt politics and turns the struggle entirely inward.

Toronto Star ★★★☆

A fun night of dry British wit and gay drama… aptly directed by Joel Greenberg.

Broadway World

Fabulous! I really loved this honest and heartbreaking play. I highly recommend.

Mooney on Theatre

Company

Kevin Elyot

Kevin Elyot

Playwright

Born in Birmingham in 1951, and educated there at King Edward’s School and then at Bristol University, Kevin Elyot was an actor before becoming a writer. He won the Samuel Beckett Award for his first play, Coming Clean (1982), staged by the Bush Theatre, London. Subsequent stage work includes a version of Ostrovsky’s Artists and Admirers (RSC, 1992); My Night With Reg (Royal Court Theatre, 1994), which was hailed as “a play of genius” by the Daily Mail, won the Evening Standard and Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Comedy and ran for almost a year in the West End; The Day I Stood Still (National Theatre, 1998); Mouth to Mouth (Royal Court, 2001), which also transferred to the West End; and Forty Winks (Royal Court, 2004). Kevin’s screenplays include Killing Time (BBC, 1990), which won the Writers’ Guild Award for Best TV Play or Film; an adaptation of The Moonstone (BBC, 1996); the film version of My Night With Reg (BBC, 1997); No Night Is Too Long (2002) adapted from the novel by Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell) for BBC Films/Alliance. He adapted six of Agatha Christie’s Marple novels as well as three of her Poirot novels, including the show’s final episode Curtain. Also 20,000 Streets Under the Sky (BBC, 2005) adapted from the novel by Patrick Hamilton; Riot at the Rite (2005) for the BBC; Clapham Junction (2007), a film for Darlow Smithson and Channel 4, starring Rupert Graves, Paul Nicholls and Luke Treadway; and Christopher and His Kind (Mammoth Screen/BBC, 2011) based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel, starring Matt Smith, Lindsay Duncan, Imogen Poots and Toby Jones. He died in June 2014 shortly before the Donmar Warehouse revival of My Night With Reg.


Joel Greenberg

Joel Greenberg

Director

For Studio 180: (selected) You Will Remember Me, Clybourne ParkThe Normal HeartOur ClassParadeThe OverwhelmingStuff HappensBlackbird, The Laramie Project. A co-founder of Studio 180, Joel is a Chalmers and Dora award–winning playwright and director who has directed productions across Canada. Elsewhere: Ain’t Misbevain‘, What the Butler Saw, Taking Sides, Vanities, Bells Are Ringing, Second City (Toronto and Chicago), Dames at Sea (too many times), Tonight at 8:00…8:30 in Newfoundland (all three editions), The Foreigner, Alice, Drink the Mercury and The Nuclear Power Play. Joel taught at Humber College Theatre School from 1984 to 1989 and the Drama Department at the University of Waterloo from 1991 to 2014, also serving as the Chair of each department.


Terri Hawkes

Terri Hawkes

Assistant Director

For Studio 180: debut. Selected directing credits: The Realistic Joneses (Tarragon Theatre – A.D.), Angel Killer (Geffen Playhouse/UCLA), Blyth Murder Mystery Theatre (NYC), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum – A.D.) and, upcoming, Hilda’s Yard (Highlands Summer Festival). As playwright: Rhubarb, Rhubarb, Rhubarb (Herman Voaden National Playwriting Finalist). As actor: Off-Broadway – Tamara (Armoury), The Greenhouse Keeper (Manhattan Punch Line), Sorrows and Sons (Vineyard); other – Salt-Water Moon (Walnut Street), Hey Marilyn (Citadel), Alice (Theatre Three), Dreaming and Duelling (ATP), Second City Touring Company, Drink the Mercury (YPT – Dir. Joel Greenberg), and Say Hello to Harvey (Royal Alex/Mirvish). Film/TV: as director – Flying Rhino Jr. High; as co-director – Sailor MoonFourteen; as screenwriter – The Book of EveAnne and Companion (in development – Elevation Pictures); as actor – numerous roles (Gemini, ACTRA & Soap Opera Award nominee). Other: Hons MFA (UCLA), MA (York), Master Directing (Tarragon). Supporting women and youth in the arts: art4you.ca


Tim Funnell

Tim Funnell

Bernie

For Studio 180: debut. Elsewhere: Grey Gardens, Reframed (Acting Up Stage); Anything Goes (Drayton Entertainment); Life After (Life After Collective); The NetherThe Big Sleep, And Then There Were None (Theatre Aquarius); City of Angels (Theatre by the Bay); Dee Snider’s Rock and Roll Christmas Tale (Starvox Entertainment); Colours in the Storm (Grand Theatre London, Spring 2017). UK/West End: Tonight’s the Night –The Rod Stewart MusicalBilly Elliott the Musical (West End and US/Canadian tour); An Inspector CallsTwelfth NightShe Stoops to Conquer/A Laughing Matter (National Theatre). TV: Lawmen (American Heroes), Camp X (Yap Films), See No Evil (Discovery Channel), Handsome Devils (Slice TV), Think You Can Shrink? (Web Series), Treasures Decoded (History Channel). Training: The Guildhall School of Music and Drama.


Alex Furber

Alex Furber

Eric

For Studio 180: debut. Other credits include Albert Narracott in Warhorse (Mirvish Productions); Brighton Beach MemoirsMarathon of Hope (Drayton); Jitters (Soulpepper); Gilbert Blythe in Anne & Gilbert (National Arts Centre); Red (Sudbury Theatre Centre); Cliff Bradshaw in Cabaret (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Macbeth (Shakespeare Bash’d); Lion in WinterThe Rainmaker (Watermark); Romeo and Juliet (Theatre New Brunswick); Taming of the Shrew (Theatre by the Bay); Romeo and Juliet (Resurgence). Film/TV: ReignMurdoch MysteriesMaydayFlashpointThe Conspiracy. Alex graduated from The National Theatre School of Canada. Twitter: @alexfurber


Martin Happer

Martin Happer

Benny

For Studio 180: The Normal Heart. Most recently: Engaged and A Woman of No Importance (Shaw Festival). In Toronto: Arcadia (Shaw/Mirvish), The Happy Woman (Nightwood), Theory (SummerWorks) and A Boy Called Newfoundland (TheatreSmash). Elsewhere: Eleven seasons at Shaw, including Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher, world premiere of Michel Marc Bouchard’s The Divine: A Play for Sarah BernhardtArcadiaLady Windermere’s Fan, and tours of Belle Moral (National Arts Centre) and Saint Joan (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); One Man Two GuvnorsThe 39 StepsAge of Arousal (Arts Club); Clybourne Park (Sterling Nomination – Citadel Theatre); The 39 Steps (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Thy Neighbour’s Wife (Theatre NorthWest); Canadian premiere of Vincent in Brixton (Theatre Network); two seasons with Free Will Shakespeare Festival. TV: MaydayMurdoch MysteriesSue Thomas F.B. EyeThe Eleventh HourBreaker High.


Jeff Miller

Jeff Miller

Daniel

For Studio 180: Cock, The Normal HeartThe Arab-Israeli CookbookThe Laramie Project. For Studio 180: Cock, The Normal HeartThe Arab-Israeli CookbookThe Laramie Project . Other theatre includes Hana’s SuitcaseTo Kill a Mockingbird, Reading the Signs, Liars (Young People’s Theatre); Same Time Next Year, Half-LifeRabbit HoleLeading Ladies (Sudbury Theatre Centre); Steven Gallagherʼs Craplicker (Toronto Fringe 2010); Mike McPhadenʼs Poochwater, Sean Reycraftʼs One Good Marriage (Theatre Passe Muraille); King Lear (Walking Shadow Theatre); Stones in His PocketsPicasso at the Lapin AgileRumors, The Petrified ForestMoon Over Buffalo (Nipissing Stage); Communicating Doors (Magnus Theatre); The Othello Project (Florida Shakespeare Theater); Love! Valour! Compassion!Twilight of the Golds (Boston Speakeasy Theater); and The Lisbon Traviata (Boston Triangle Theater). TV credits include roles on Good WitchThe StrainMan Seeking Woman and Queer as Folk.


Gray Powell

Gray Powell

John

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Credits: Arcadia (Mirvish Productions); Middletown, St. Joan, Engaged, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide…, You Never Can Tell, Arcadia, Cabaret, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Hedda Gabler, Born Yesterday, The Circle (Shaw Festival); The 39 Steps (Lyndesfarne Theatre); This Lime Tree Bower (Cart/Horse Theatre); Other People’s Children (Theatre Panik); The Pitman Painters (Theatre Aquarius); Hamlet Project (Necessary Angel); Festen (Company Theatre). Film/TV: ARQ (Netflix); Murdoch Mysteries (CBC); King (Showcase); Train 48 (Global); Fugitive Pieces (Serendipity Point Films); Hollywoodland (Focus Features/Miramax); Kaw (Kaw Productions).


Jonathan Wilson

Guy

For Studio 180: Love, Dishonour, Marry, Die, Cherish, PerishThe Normal Heart. Past theatre work includes the Canadian premiere of The Lion King (Dora Award – The Princess of Wales Theatre) and performances in his own play My Own Private Oshawa (Governor General’s Award nominee, Dora/Chalmers Nomination – Tarragon Theatre, New Yorker Theatre). Jonathan was also a writer and performer with The Second City for six shows (Dora Nomination). Other theatre credits include The Drowsy ChaperoneMoonlight and Magnolias (Sudbury Theatre Centre); The Clockmaker (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Possible WorldsThe Duchess (Theatre Passe Muraille); Not To Be RepeatedMedici Slot Machine (Tarragon Extra Space); Cinderella (The Elgin Theatre); This Could Be Love (The Poor Alex); and Annie Get Your Gun (Massey Hall). Jonathan was also writer in residence at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto where he wrote the play Kilt (Dora/New York Drama Desk nominations), which has had over 20 productions around the world. TV and film credits include Not To Be Repeated (CTV/The Comedy Network), My Own Private Oshawa (Gemini Nomination – CTV), Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye (Pax Network/CTV), Murdoch Mysteries (CityTV), This Is Wonderland (CBC), Life With Derek (Family) and Monk (USA Network), as well as hundreds of voices for animated series including SkatoonyIggy Arbuckle (Gemini Nomination), Pearlie and Little Bear.


Laura Baxter

Laura Baxter

Stage Manager

For Studio 180: You Will Remember Me, NSFWGod of CarnageClybourne Park. Other selected theatre credits: Black Boys, The 20th of November, Arigato Tokyo, Obaaberima, The Maids, The Silicone Diaries, Breakfast, (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre), Actually (Obsidian/ Harold Green), The Story, Tails From the City, Happy Days (Common Boots Theatre), Trout Stanley, Little Pretty and the Exceptional, Age of Arousal (Factory Theatre), Elle (Theatre Passe Muraille), I Call myself Princess (Cahoots/Paper Canoe/Native Earth), Sweat, Love and Information, Venus in Fur, 7 seasons of Shakespeare in High Park (CanadianStage), Soliciting Temptation, More Fine Girls (Tarragon Theatre), The Berlin Blues, Ipperwash (Blyth Festival), Speaking in Tongues, Festen (The Company Theatre), A Christmas Carol, The Story, Macbeth (Caravan Farm Theatre). Laura is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, 2005.  Thank you to my amazing wife Shawn for all your love and support.


Bradley Dunn

Bradley Dunn

Assistant Stage Manager

For Studio 180: You Will Remember Me. Select Theatre Credits: Chicago (Globe Theatre); Dear Evan Hansen (Mirvish Productions); The Baroness and the PigHenry V (Shaw Festival); Mixie and the Halfbreeds (fu-GEN Theatre); The Comedy of Errors, A Grand Time in the Rapids (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Buying the Moose (Port Stanley); The Wizard of Oz (The Grand Theatre); The Heidi ChroniclesThe Odd Couple (Soulpepper); It’s A Wonderful Life (Theatre Aquarius). Other: Bradley is a graduate of the McMaster University and Sheridan College. Thanks to family and friends for their constant support.


Garth Helm

Garth Helm

Sound Designer

For Studio 180: debut. Regional designs include October Sky (The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego); Ride the Cyclone (MCC at Lucille Lortel, NYC); Beauty and the Beast, Shrek (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Brigadoon (Goodman Theatre); The Buddy Holly StoryEvita, RagtimeSweeney Todd, The Sound of Music, Xanadu, Oliver, West Side Story, Billy Elliott (Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook); The Most Happy Fella (Ravinia Festival); Barry Manilow’s Could It Be Magic? (Mercury Theater). Broadway designs include Pippin (Tony Nomination for best sound design & first national tour), The Heart of Robin Hood (Winnipeg/Toronto), US associate sound designer for Rocky the Musical (Broadway), We Will Rock You “The Queen Musical” (US Tour & São Paulo, Brazil), Ghost the Musical (Broadway, US Tour & South Korea), Les Mis 25th Anniversary Concert (02 Arena, London & 25th US Tour), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Toronto, NYC & US Tour), Dirty Dancing (US), Phantom “The Las Vegas Spectacular.”  Garth is a sound design consultant for various live theatre and performance spaces throughout North America.


Kimberly Purtell

Kimberly Purtell

Lighting Designer

For Studio 180: You Will Remember MeLove, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, PerishNSFWCockGod of CarnageClybourne ParkThe Normal HeartOur ClassParadeThe OverwhelmingStuff HappensBlackbird. Kimberly is a Toronto based lighting designer for theatre, opera and dance and is thrilled to be working with Studio 180 once again. Her designs have been critically acclaimed across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Prague, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Moscow and Mongolia. She has designed for the Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Canadian Stage Company, Soulpepper Theatre, Mirvish Productions, National Arts Centre and the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Pacific Opera Victoria, Opera Philadelphia, Arena Stage in Washington DC, Tapestry Opera, Hamilton Opera, Edmonton Opera, Theatre Calgary, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Citadel Theatre, Place des Arts, among many others. She has also designed productions for the Pan Am Games and the Vancouver and Beijing Cultural Olympiads. Kimberly has received three Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Pauline McGibbon Award, a Sterling Award, and a Montreal English Theatre Award. She is the Vice President of the Associated Designers of Canada and IATSE ADC659.


Mary Spyrakis

Head of Props

For Studio 180: God of CarnageClybourne Park, Stuff Happens. Head of Props for the Canadian Stage Company.


John Thompson

Set and Costume Designer

For Studio 180: CockGod of CarnageThe Normal HeartOur Class.  Other theatre credits: Speaking in Tongues, The Test, Through the Leaves (Dora Award), Festen, A Whistle in the Dark, Marion Bridge (Company Theatre); Divisadero (Necessary Angel); The Retreat from Moscow, The Tempest, The Clean House, A Christmas Carol, Humble Boy, The Shape of Things (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Waiting for Godot, No Man’s Land, The Mill on the Floss, Betrayal, Twelfth Night, Don Carlos, The Misanthrope (Soulpepper); The Trials of Ezra Pound (Stratford Festival); The Pessimist, Care, Alice’s Affair, Helen’s Necklace, Russell Hill, Little Mercy’s First Murder, The Good Life, Skylight, Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, Earshot, The Road to Hell (Tarragon Theatre); Eternal Hydra (Crow’s Theatre – Dora Award); Caught, Unity (1918), Blood (Theatre Passe Muraille). John teaches design at the University of Toronto Drama Centre.