September 4, 2014
The SuburbanSeptember 3, 2014
By Walter Lyng
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Heading into her first full season as the Segal Centre’s artistic director, Lisa Rubin recently told The Suburban that she is eagerly anticipating the opening of The Graduate this Thursday, September 4.
“Starting at this time is really exciting,” she says. “Just when people are getting into the swing of things and going back to school, it’s kind of a new mindset that sinks in as summer winds down. The Graduate is the perfect piece to keep it going.”
As for why the season is starting earlier than in previous years, Rubin says it all came down to a question of timing.
“Our calendar is based around the Jewish holidays,” she says. “The fact that the high holidays fall at the end of September this year meant that we could put in a show at the beginning of the month.”
The Graduate is directed by Segal Centre regular Andrew Shaver and features a cast that includes the likes of Luke Humphrey, Brigitte Robinson, Georgina Beaty and Graham Cuthbertson among others. Rubin says that Shaver’s vision is onewhich incorporates both elements from the 1960s film as well as the original stage production. “I think Andrew Shaver drew a lot on what was iconic and nostalgic about the film. He’s trying to deliver a fun, entertaining show while infusing it with all of these things that can make it relevant for us today.”
Incorporating video projections as well as a live score by Justin Rutledge and Matthew Barber, Rubin says this production of The Graduate is more than just a play.
“It’s an experience,” she says. “It really infuses the past throughout, but you feel like you’re watching something that could only be done in 2014.”
Set to be followed by a musical production of Les Belles Soeurs in October, Rubin says The Graduate is only the beginning of what is set to be an impactful season of theatre. “Every play is going to push the boundaries of what we’ve done before.”
The Graduate will run until September 21. For more information, visit www.segalcentre.org