Mimi (or A Poisoner’s Comedy) November 3, 2010

Touchstone Theatre’s 35th season kicks off with the Western Canadian premiere of Mimi (or A Poisoner’s Comedy) by Allen Cole, Melody A. Johnson and Rick Roberts. The tempestuous Marquise of Brinvilliers has a repressive father, a young lover, an accommodating husband, and a thrilling new hobby: poison. It doesn’t take her long to figure out that murder is even more delicious than an evening of debauchery. A witty and hilarious musical about France’s most infamous serial killer, Mimi plays the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts November 3 to 7 and the Firehall Arts Centre November 10 – 20, 2010. This naughty ‘bon bon’ of a show wowed Toronto when it premiered at the Tarragon last season. The Vancouver production, with the fabulous Jennifer Lines in the lead role, promises to please and tease.
Touchstone Theatre’s Artistic Director Katrina Dunn directs Donald Adams, Greg Armstrong-Morris, Peter Jorgenson, Jennifer Lines, Linda Quibell and Sanders Whiting, with Musical Direction by Steven Greenfield. Set design for Mimi is by David Roberts, lighting design by Gilliam Wolpert, and costume design by Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh. Marijka Brusse is the stage manager assisted by Rebecca Mulvihill. Mimi is produced in association with the Firehall Arts Centre and the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

Penned by three of Toronto’s most intriguing theatre creators, Mimi features Lyrics and Music by Allen Cole with Book and Lyrics by Melody A. Johnson and Rick Roberts. Composer, lyricist and musical director Allen Cole has created new musical works for many Canadian theatres including the National Arts Centre, the Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille and BC’s Caravan Farm Theatre. Melody A. Johnson won Dora Awards for her performances in the Toronto premieres of Touchstone favourites Little Mercy’s First Murder and It’s All True, and cut her teeth writing as an ensemble actor (and now director) with Toronto’s famous Second City. Rick Roberts has won acclaim as an actor at many of Eastern Canada’s major theatres and onscreen with a host of film and television credits. He wrote his first play Fish/Wife in 2002 and since then has been emerging as both a playwright and director of note.
Mimi (or A Poisoner’s Comedy) runs from November 3 to 7 (Wed – Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm) at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby, BC. Tickets are $25/$30 from 604-205-3000 or www.shadboltcentre.com. And November 10 to 20 (Tues - Sat 8pm: Sat & Sun 2pm) at the Firehall Arts Centre, 280 East Cordova St, Vancouver, BC. Tickets are $28/$24 available from www.firehallartscentre.ca or 604-689-0926.

Official Website: http://www.touchstonetheatre.com