The Chairs at Artword Theatre Alternative Space

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The Chairs Image

In the new Artword Alternative
an intimate new performance space

Modern Times Stage Company's
production of
Eugene Ionesco's

The Chairs

Written by: Eugene Ionesco
Translated by: Donald M. Allen
Artistic conception by: Soheil Parsa and Jan Komarek
Directed by: Soheil Parsa
Starring: Michelle Polak and Peter Farbridge
Set, costume and lighting design: Jan Komarek
Sound design: Ben Grossman
Stage manager: Alexa Carroll

Previews: Fri September 21 and Sat September 22, 8:00 pm and -Sun September 23, 2:30 pm
Opens: Tues. September 25 and runs to October 14, 2001.
Performances: Tuesday to Saturday 8:00 pm and Sunday 2:30
Tickets: Tuesday to Thursday $15, Friday and Saturday $20, Sunday Mat. PYWC, Previews $10
For Information, Advanced Reservations and Group Rates please call: (416) 651-5480
For more information on The Modern Times Stage Company, visit their website

The Chairs is a physical comedy about the absurdity of post-modern life, the madness of human coexistence, and society’s fruitless search for a second Eden. An ancient couple, living together in a lighthouse for the better part of a century, have invited a large crowd to come hear their coveted “message to humanity”. The room spills over with chairs as the hapless pair scramble to accommodate the droves of arriving guests. The only problem is, their guests are invisible… Is this really happening, or is this an elaborate geriatric game? The farcical and illusory elements of Ionesco’s work are a perfect marriage to Parsa's movement driven and powerful imagistic style.

As many of SOHEIL PARSA's ideas and stage pictures are intimately wed to sound, lighting and movement, the director has teamed up with one of Toronto's most innovative designers, JAN KOMAREK who collaborated with Soheil on the artistic conception of this piece. He is responsible for Set, Costume and Lighting Design. Jan has received consistent acclaim for his unique visual style designing for such companies as da da kamera (The Soldier Dreams, Faust Workshops) and Linda Griffith's Alien Creatures. BEN GROSSMAN, a well-known performer of experimental work, folk, early and traditional music in Toronto is the Sound Designer for The Chairs.

Rounding off the artistic team are two of Toronto's most captivating actors: MICHELLE POLLAK and PETER FARBRIDGE. The disciplined and emotionally-vital Michelle appeared in Modern Times Stage's acclaimed production of The Daughters of Sheherzad and was nominated for Dora Awards for her roles in A Promise is A Promise (Carousel Players), and Raging Dreams: Into The Visceral (Theatre Gargantua). Co-founder of Modern Times, Peter has interpreted the title roles of many productions with the company, including those of Hamlet and Macbeth. Known for his intense physical and emotional performance style, his collaboration with Michelle is a “not-to-be-missed” event.

Soheil Parsa is a multi award-winning director, actor, writer, dramaturg and teacher. He is best known as the co-founder and Artistic Director of Modern Times Stage Company bringing his own Middle Eastern aesthetic and collaborative approach to bear on both Persian and Western scripts.

			In the new Artword Alternative an intimate new performance space Modern Times Stage Company's production of Eugene Ionesco's *The Chairs*
	Written by: Eugene Ionesco Translated by: Donald M. Allen Artistic conception by: Soheil Parsa and Jan Komarek Directed by: Soheil Parsa Starring: Michelle Polak and Peter Farbridge Set, costume and lighting design: Jan Komarek Sound design: Ben Grossman Stage manager: Alexa Carroll
	Previews: Fri September 21 and Sat September 22, 8:00 pm and -Sun September 23, 2:30 pm Opens: Tues. September 25 and runs to October 14, 2001. Performances: Tuesday to Saturday 8:00 pm and Sunday 2:30 Tickets: Tuesday to Thursday $15, Friday and Saturday $20, Sunday Mat. PYWC, Previews $10 For Information, Advanced Reservations and Group Rates please call: (416) 651-5480 For more information on The Modern Times Stage Company, visit their website

	The Chairs is a physical comedy about the absurdity of post-modern life, the madness of human coexistence, and society’s fruitless search for a second Eden. An ancient couple, living together in a lighthouse for the better part of a century, have invited a large crowd to come hear their coveted “message to humanity”. The room spills over with chairs as the hapless pair scramble to accommodate the droves of arriving guests. The only problem is, their guests are invisible… Is this really happening, or is this an elaborate geriatric game? The farcical and illusory elements of Ionesco’s work are a perfect marriage to Parsa's movement driven and powerful imagistic style. As many of SOHEIL PARSA's ideas and stage pictures are intimately wed to sound, lighting and movement, the director has teamed up with one of Toronto's most innovative designers, JAN KOMAREK who collaborated with Soheil on the artistic conception of this piece. He is responsible for Set, Costume and Lighting Design. Jan has received consistent acclaim for his unique visual style designing for such companies as da da kamera (The Soldier Dreams, Faust Workshops) and Linda Griffith's Alien Creatures. BEN GROSSMAN, a well-known performer of experimental work, folk, early and traditional music in Toronto is the Sound Designer for The Chairs. Rounding off the artistic team are two of Toronto's most captivating actors: MICHELLE POLLAK and PETER FARBRIDGE. The disciplined and emotionally-vital Michelle appeared in Modern Times Stage's acclaimed production of The Daughters of Sheherzad and was nominated for Dora Awards for her roles in A Promise is A Promise (Carousel Players), and Raging Dreams: Into The Visceral (Theatre Gargantua). Co-founder of Modern Times, Peter has interpreted the title roles of many productions with the company, including those of Hamlet and Macbeth. Known for his intense physical and emotional performance style, his collaboration with Michelle is a “not-to-be-missed” event. Soheil Parsa is a multi award-winning director, actor, writer, dramaturg and teacher. He is best known as the co-founder and Artistic Director of Modern Times Stage Company bringing his own Middle Eastern aesthetic and collaborative approach to bear on both Persian and Western scripts.