Slings and Arrows

I can not praise this show enough. It portrays every character and situation with a cutting accuracy, which may seem ludicrous at first glance, but is actually not exaggerated in the slightest. A director who just doesn't care about the details, an actress who's the star of the show... and knows it. A holier-than-thou leading actress who's missing one thing- talent, a lonely understudy and a movie star trying to prove himself; what else can you ask for?

Paul Gross's performance is stunning, and for those of us who saw his 'Hamlet' (which he actually acted in at the alternate reality setting of the show- the Stratford Festival) laughter abounds. People who watch Slings and Arrows will laugh. Actors or Theatre Goers who watch Slings and Arrows will be rolling on the floor within seconds.

Two thumbs up and a standing ovation- Paul Gross, I applaud you to the very echo.

Go to Amazon.com right now and register your vote for "Slings & Arrows" on DVD! This series has been amazing to watch (it's starting a repeat run on Sundance Channel this Sunday night, Sept.17th) and has reminded me how much I loved Shakespeare long ago. Paul Gross is a wonder to watch and even if you aren't "into" the Bard, you will want to see his performance. All of the performances are top notch and the writing is very real. You can recognize these characters as people you know. The script doesn't allow for easy answers to the questions raised, but gives the characters complexities that I have not seen in a mini-series before. It is smart, well observed and funny as hell! Amazon is looking for "votes" to gage interest in production of a DVD of the first series. I urge you to go there now! You will definitely want to watch this show over and over again.

This series is not only great fun to watch, but is also extremely poignant and insightful. The antics offered by the characters keep things moving quickly and maintain the entertainment, but every now and again, they slip a subversive bit of social commentary into the mix as well.

When Irwin's corporate shark quips at one point that she's always had an idea to do a musical about John Lennon's life, saying that it would have everything the modern production needs to succeed (sex, drama and familiar music) it's hard for the "Mama Mia!" marquee to not flash in the mind's eye. When Burns' young stud pronounces that he loves "serious theatre" while holding an inflatable doll in the shape of the man from Munch's "The Scream", the fundamental paradox in presenting the arts in our times hits you in the face: in order to produce, you need to sell, but it's hard to sell without selling out.

The contrast between approaches to Shakespeare used by Gross' reluctant, haunted (literally!) Artistic Director and McKellar's over the top Art-Nouveaux Director (a send up of Robert LePage, I'm sure) is fantastic, and illustrates that Shakespeare can be both artistic AND accessible. The snippets shown of the final mounted production of Hamlet are brilliant, and Gross' speeches about the meaning of the various passages in the play should be cribbed by all high school students studying it.

One hopes that Showcase, Bravo or HBO will pick this up, and even better, that a DVD release is forthcoming. Or better yet - a second series?

I don't have much to say about this series other than it is one of the best television series of all time! Anyone who has the slightest appreciation for Shakespeare or the theatre in general will get instantly hooked on this series, each season having one of Shakespeare's major tragedies at it's focus. Paul Gross proves himself to be one of the most underrated actors working to day as the brilliant Geoffrey Tennant, and his real life wife Martha Burns is wonderful as star actress Ellen Fanshaw. Stephen Ouimette Steals every scene he's in as the ghost of former Artistic Director Oliver Wells, and in season one there's excellent work from Luke Kirby and a pre-Notebook Rachel McAdams. If you haven't seen this series yet, go buy the DVD immediately!

You can tell that this TV show came out of a country other the the US because it's so well acted, very funny and just plain brilliant. It's unashamedly aimed at adults with IQ's over 10. I've been a huge fan of Stephen Ouimettes for years so I expected nothing but the best from him, but what a pleasant surprise to find this show chock a block with actors who actually can act. I watched the first two seasons straight through the night purring like a cat with a saucer of cream. It's great fun seeing how the theatre works behind the scenes - at last a show with a unique theme, original ideas and clever writing. I hope this one lasts and lasts.