Tom McCamus, Jonathan Goad (10/08, 1/10 Phedre)
CJCS Radio 10/10/08: Tom McCamus
More Festival Casting
Fri. October 10 06:26 am
The roles continue to be filled for the 2009 season at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Casting for Phedre, has been announced, and includes the return of actor Tom McCamus. He will play the role of Theseus, alongside Seana McKenna, who will take on the title role.
© CJCS Radio
Excerpt from Stratford 8/7/09: Tom McCamus, Jonathan Goad (Thug in "Under the Cloak of War")
Phèdre starts previews with Seana McKenna in title role: New translation by Timberlake Wertenbaker receives world première in co-production between Stratford and A.C.T.
Audiences had the first opportunity to see Seana McKenna and Roberta Maxwell in Timberlake Wertenbaker’s new translation of Jean Racine’s masterpiece Phèdre on Thursday, August 6, as the play began previews at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s intimate Tom Patterson Theatre.
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In addition to Ms McKenna in the title role, Ms Maxwell as Oenone, the nurse, and Mr. Goad as Hippolytus, the production features Sean Arbuckle as Théramène, Dalal Badr as Ismène, Claire Lautier as Aricie, and Tom McCamus as Theseus.
© Stratford
Excerpt from Stratford Beacon Herald 8/24/09: Tom McCamus
Skilled cast finds Phedre’s emotional core
Posted By Larke Turnbull
Tom McCamus is a towering figure as Theseus, frightening in his fierce rage against a son he thinks has betrayed him, then wildly furious with the god for too rapidly causing his son’s death before Theseus learned the truth.
© Stratford Beacon Herald
Excerpt from Canoe.ca 8/24/09
Passion & tragedy aplenty in 'Phedre'
By JOHN COULBOURN August 24, 2009
There's strong, impressive work too from Maxwell, McCamus and Lautier, as well as from Irene Poole and Sean Arbuckle in supporting roles.
© Canoe.ca
Excerpt from Toronto Star 8/26/09: Tom McCamus, Jonathan Goad
A brilliant Phèdre waits just next door
By: Robert Crew Special to the Star, Published on Wed Aug 26 2009
Stratford has mustered some of its very best for this production. The so-talented Jonathan Goad is a magnificent Hippolytus; the tension between him and Phèdre positively crackles. Tom McCamus, meanwhile, uses all his considerable skill to conjure up a complex, regal-but-flawed Theseus and the canny Roberta Maxwell spins subtle webs of deceit as Oenone.
© The Star
Excerpt from New York Times 8/29/09: Tom McCamus, Jonathan Goad
Love in All Its Feverish, Irrational Glory
By CHARLES ISHERWOOD Published: August 28, 2009
Neither the strutting Theseus of Tom McCamus nor the rather bland Hippolytus of Jonathan Goad seems to unleash the furies in her soul.
© New York Times
Excerpt from Seattle Times 8/31/09: Tom McCamus
Geraint Wyn Davies sparks 'Dream' and 'Caesar'
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA Originally published Monday, August 31, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Passion is held in check until Phedre believes her husband Theseus (Tom McCamus) is dead (not true) and then she blurts out the truth about her desires. Nothing good can come of such honesty.
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There is some fine work by the supporting cast, particularly Roberta Maxwell's fiercely forbidding nurse, and McCamus' understandably upset Theseus.
© Seattle Times
Excerpt from Stratford Festival Reviews: Tom McCamus
Drama queen earns no sympathy in Stratford production
a Colin Hunter The Record
While all the actors in the production turn in solid performances - particularly Tom McCamus as Theseus, Roberta Maxwell as Oenone the nurse, and McKenna in the lead - they seem to be working independently of one another.
© Stratford Festival Reviews
Excerpt from The Sudbury Star 9/19/09: Tom McCamus
Greek gods and lusty passions
JOHN COULBOURN Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:00:00 EDT AM
There's strong, impressive work too from Maxwell, McCamus and Lautier, as well as from Irene Poole and Sean Arbuckle in supporting roles.
© Sudbury Star
Excerpt from National Post 10/09: Tom McCamus
A midsummer night's terror worth revisiting
Tom McCamus makes an unconventionally reasonable Theseus, one who has to be goaded into fury: a defensible choice but contributing to the general lack of voltage.
© National Post
Excerpt from Broadway World 12/9/09: Tom McCamus
A.C.T. Presents Racine's PHEDRE 1/20/2010
Wednesday, Dec, 9, 2009; 3:53 PM; - by Classical Music News Desk
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) begins the New Year with Jean Racine's grand tragedy Phèdre in a world premiere translation by Timberlake Wertenbaker (Our Country's Good, A.C.T.'s Antigone and Hecuba). This first-time coproduction with the internationally renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival gives local theater lovers a rare opportunity to witness exquisite classical acting from this Canadian company in its Bay Area debut.
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Perloff directed this world premiere production as part of Stratford Shakespeare Festival's 2009 season with a cast led by McKenna, who "holds the Canadian patent on Greek tragedy" (National Post), and including Stratford Acting Company favorites Thomas McCamus as Theseus, Jonathan Goad as Hippolytus, Roberta Maxwell as Oenone, Claire Lautier as Aricie, and Sean Arbuckle as Théramène.
© Broadway World Classical World
Excerpt from American Conservatory Theater 1/10: Tom McCamus, Jonathon Goad (Thug in "Under the Cloak of War")
PHÈDRE Fact Sheet
WHAT: In this explosive world premiere production, A.C.T. joins forces with one of the most thrilling theater companies in the world, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, giving audiences a rare opportunity to witness exquisite classical acting from this prestigious Canadian company in its Bay Area debut. Stratford star actor Seana McKenna plays Phèdre, a woman caught in an agonizing love triangle with her husband, King Theseus of Athens, and his son by a former lover. In a new adaptation by Timberlake Wertenbaker (A.C.T.’s Hecuba and Antigone, Our Country’s Good) and with original music by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang (A.C.T.’s Antigone, Hecuba, and The Difficulty of Crossing a Field), Phèdre is a potent mix of visceral sexuality and rich poetry.
WHO: by Jean Racine
Translated and adapted by Timberlake Wertenbaker
Directed by Carey Perloff
Presented in association with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Ontario, Canada
Designed by James F. Ingalls (lighting designer), David Lang (original music), and Christina
Poddubiuk (scenic and costume designer)
Featuring Sean Arbuckle (Théramène), Jonathan Goad (Hippolytus), Sophia Holman (Panope),
Claire Lautier (Aricie), Mairin Lee (Ismène), Roberta Maxwell (Oenone), Thomas McCamus
(Theseus), and Seana McKenna (Phèdre)
WHERE: American Conservatory Theater 415 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
WHEN: January 15-February 7, 2010
Tue.-Sat. at 8 p.m. (1/26 performance at 7 p.m.)
Wed., Sat. & Sun. at 2 p.m. (no matinee performances on 1/17, 1/20)
Additional performances: 1/17 (7 p.m.), 1/24 (7 p.m.)
© American Conservatory Theatre
Excerpt from Culture Vulture 1/1/10: Tom McCamus
Phèdre
And, when Theseus, the husband, (a very good Tom McCamus) turns up alive, it is Oenone who bears the false tale that will ultimately cost Hippolytus his life.
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Laughter ceases upon the entrance of Theseus. McCamus invests the legendary hero-king with such dignity and humanity that he demands serious attention.
© Culture Vulture
Excerpt from American Conservatory Theater 1/8/10: Tom McCamus
Traveling for Phèdre
posted by Seana McKenna, cast member of Phèdre Friday, January 8, 2010
I have just finished my first week of rehearsal for Racine’s Phèdre at A.C.T. I left, or rather, tried to leave Toronto on December 26th. Yes, December 26th. My fellow cast member Tom McCamus and I were in the center of the maelstrom at Pearson International, when increased security measures resulted in delays of more than six hours, more than 100 cancelled flights, and lineups of hundreds and hundreds of people. We stood in one line for two hours to get luggage tags, then in another line for customs for three hours, for a flight that was to leave at 5:30 p.m., but was rescheduled for 8 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., we were told our flight was cancelled and we should all go home and reschedule our flight. Flights were booked for us the next day, by A.C.T.’s wonderful interim company manager, Tim Cole. We arrived four hours early for our noon flight to Charlotte, and then for a flight from Charlotte to Newark, and then from Newark to San Francisco. If you check a map, connecting those dots does not make for a pretty picture. We would arrive in Newark six hours after we left Toronto. And we were not driving. We would arrive in San Francisco at midnight our time.
We had various holdups in customs: we stood in line three times, being told to sign forms by one agent that were not required by the next agent (the wrong form was ripped in half before my eyes with what might be construed as relish). For reasons unknown to me, I was sent to secondary inspection. Perhaps it was my paperwork; perhaps it was my profession (did I detect disdain when I said “actor”?); or perhaps it was my confession of a box of chocolates in my suitcase. Tom’s agent let him through. Same paperwork, same profession, but no chocolates. That had to be it.
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I was relieved and shaken. I met Tom and we made the flight. A good thing we had come four hours early. The flight from Charlotte to Newark was delayed by an hour, and we were sure we would miss the connection to San Francisco. We booked a backup flight for 6 a.m. the next morning and imagined a nice dinner in Newark and a hunt for a hotel. Our flight arrived in Newark at 6 p.m., the connecting flight leaving at 6:15 p.m. We ran. We went through security again, as the gate was at the other end of the airport. When we arrived at the gate, no attendant was at the desk. We looked through the locked door, and banged on it. Two air attendants came to the door and took our tickets! Out of breath, we had barely sat down when the plane started moving. We arrived in San Francisco at 12:30 a.m., and, miraculously, our luggage had also made it onto the plane.
© American Conservatory Theater
Excerpt from Broadway World 1/20/10: Tom McCamus, Jonathan Goad (Thug in "Under the Cloak of War")
A.C.T. Presents Racine's PHEDRE 1/20/2010
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) begins the New Year with Jean Racine's grand tragedy Phèdre in a world premiere translation by Timberlake Wertenbaker (Our Country's Good, A.C.T.'s Antigone and Hecuba).
....
Perloff directed this world premiere production as part of Stratford Shakespeare Festival's 2009 season with a cast led by McKenna, who "holds the Canadian patent on Greek tragedy" (National Post), and including Stratford Acting Company favorites Thomas McCamus as Theseus, Jonathan Goad as Hippolytus, Roberta Maxwell as Oenone, Claire Lautier as Aricie, and Sean Arbuckle as Théramène.
© Broadway World
Excerpt from Aisle Say 1/10: Tom McCamus
PHÈDRE
Reviewed by Judy Richter
Despite some fine acting, especially by McKenna and McCamus as the queen and king and by Maxwell as Oenone, there's a static feeling about this production.
© Aisle Say
Excerpt from Stark Silver Creek 1/21/10: Tom McCamus, Jonathan Goad (Thug in "Under the Cloak of War")
Theater review: ‘Phèdre’ classy and unflinching, Seana McKenna shines
by Clinton Stark (@clintonstark) | 01.21.10
The story centers on Phèdre (Seana McKenna), a woman caught in an agonizing love triangle with her husband, Kind Theseus of Athens (Tom McCamus), and his son by a former lover.
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Seana McKenna commands the stage, effortlessly transforming her scenes into something special. Also, on this evening, Tom McCamus was a standout, his deep voice resonating across the theater with rage, then despair. When either of these two are on stage, the show’s energy elevates a notch or two.
© Stark Silver Creek
Excerpt from San Francisco Examiner 1/22/10: Tom McCamus, Jonathan Goad
'Phèdre’ packed with politics, passion
By: Georgia Rowe Special to The Examiner January 22, 2010
The cast performs brilliantly. Seana McKenna savors the title character’s torment, as well as her poetic flights; Tom McCamus projects authority as Theseus, and Jonathan Goad is a solid presence as Hippolytus. Roberta Maxwell is wonderfully incisive as Oenone, Phèdre’s crafty nurse and covert advisor.
© San Francisco Examiner
Excerpt from KQED 1/22/10: Tom McCamus
A.C.T.’s Phèdre a Hot Mess
By Ben Marks Jan 22, 2010
As Theseus, Thomas McCamus wakes this production up. He bellows, he struts, and it’s not just his character that swaggers. McCamus owns his role in a way the other leads don’t. We trust his bluster and wince at his pride because we believe both.
© KQED
Excerpt from SF Gate 1/22/10: Tom McCamus, Jonathan Goad
Theater review: 'Phèdre' lacking in tragedy
Robert Hurwitt, Chronicle Theater Critic Published 4:00 am, Friday, January 22, 2010
This is a comparatively staid "Phèdre." McKenna's finely textured line readings seem constrained or dwarfed by the large stage, as if pitched to the more intimate Stratford house. Jonathan Goad's deliberate Hippolytus comes alive only with his forbidden beloved, Aricie (a vital Claire Lautier), and Tom McCamus is strangely disengaged as Phèdre's husband, Theseus.
© SF Gate
Excerpt from Beyond Chron 1/22/10: Tom McCamus
Phedre - “Haunting!”; Andrea Marcovicci - “Splendid!”
by Buzzin' Lee Hartgrave on January 22, 2010
The Cast is superb. They put you in another time. They are: Jonathan Goad, Sean Arbuckle, Roberta Maxwell, Seana McKenna, Sophia Holman, Claire Lautier, Mairin Lee and Tom McCamus. Sumptuous direction by Carey Perloff.
© Beyond Chron
Excerpt from The Idiolect 1/22/10: Tom McCamus
Isn’t It Tragic
22. January, 2010 by Sam Hurwitt
Although Tom McCamus has a rich and resonant voice as a preening Theseus, he’s believable neither in regal or heroic bearing nor in the emotional content of any of his scenes. It was probably a mistake for Poddubiuk to dress Theseus in long robes, because McCamus fiddles with his cape incessantly as if afraid he’ll trip over it.
© The Idiolect
Excerpt from Examiner 1/22/10: Tom McCamus
A.C.T.'s poetic "Phedre" a class act; a lesson in "less is more" but sexuality corseted
January 22, 2010 7:55 PM MST
To tempt fate, ACT presents a classically good looking cast of Shakespeareans and Americans complete with maidens fair. ACT presents corseted and bustled, Sophia Homan (Panope) and Mairin Lee (Ismene) along with classically handsome, swash buckling Neptune fearing virile heroes in knee high boots and manes of thick hair: Jonathan Goad (Hippolytus), Sean Arbuckle (Theramene), Thomas McCamus (Theseus).
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If the audience had first laid eyes upon the dashing King Theseus played by Tom McCamus, the story of Queen mother Phedre’s lust for the son would have been less convincing. He seemed gallant, brave, poised, self-centered, cold, only hinting at his philandering if that. It was the way he touched Aricie--not the way a gentleman would. He treated the virgin like a wench, roughly.
© Examiner
Excerpt from Napa Valley Register 1/27/10: Tom McCamus
A.C.T. takes on great tragic heroine with Racine’s ‘Phèdre’
January 27, 2010 12:00 am • By SASHA PAULSEN Register Features Editor
The translation of this classic from the French is superb and vital, although the acting in the production seemed subdued, with the exception of Thomas McCamus who gave a riveting, if not magnficent, performance as Theseus.
© Napa Valley Register
Excerpt from Talkin' Broadway 2/2/10: Tom McCamus, Jonathan Goad
An Absorbing Production of Phèdre
by Richard Connema
Jonathan Goad is magnificent as Hippolytus. He gives a strong and virile performance. The tension between Hippolytus and Phèdre is absolutely dynamic. Tom McCamus is outstanding as the flawed Theseus. He has one of the greatest theatrical voices I have heard these past years. It's a brilliant performance.
© Talkin' Broadway