2014-03-29

The Memory of Water



Theater 317 proudly presents the Montreal premiere of The Memory of Water by Shelagh Stephenson, directed by Corey Castle, from April 8th - 12th at Theatre La Chapelle.

In The Memory of Water, three sisters, each haunted by their own demons, gather in a highly charged atmosphere on the eve of their mother's funeral. With a storm raging outside, they laugh, cry, rage and bicker as the conflicts of the past and their hold on the present are mercilessly exposed.

Complicating their interactions is the fragile nature of memory; no two sisters remember their childhood experiences in the same way. Yet, they are sisters and must find a way to come together. Unable to connect with each other, they find dangerous, desperate, poignant and wildly funny ways to break through.

Theatre 317 artistic director, Munirah Amra, chose this play because for her, it is about the two most important things in life, memory and love, “The Memory of Water is life affirming and bittersweet, cheeky and profound, gentle and cruel. It offers us an evening of laughter and the opportunity to celebrate what makes us human.”

This searing comedy exposes the patterns and strains of family life in a way that will be familiar to all. Winner of the British Laurence Olivier Award in 2000 for Best Comedy, The Memory of Water promises to be one of those great elucidating nights at the theatre, holding a mirror up to anyone with a sibling.

The cast includes Katherine Cleland, Mylène Dinh-Robic (from the hit new TV series 19-2), Milan Duchêne, Anais Kassardjian, Azeddine Kettani, Jéromine Lorre-Déjoie and Ani Shahbazian. Lighting design is by Marie-Reine Corvellec and set design by Olivier Donohue.

About Theatre 317
Theatre 317 was born in Montreal over twenty years ago in a classroom at Collège Marie de France, room 317, when a group of bright students were first introduced to the stage by an inspiring teacher, Munirah Amra. Today, many of these original students, some of whom are now professional actors, have formed Theatre 317 helmed by Munirah Amra as artistic director, and continue to produce wonderful plays for loyal audiences.
The Memory of Water, first presented in London in 1998, received unqualified rave reviews and moved from its off-West End theatre to the West End for an extended run. The London Sunday Times said, “Shelagh Stephenson’s writing is barbed, lyrical, witty & full of a rare emotional intelligence”; the Independent called it, “Wickedly funny and moving.”
The Memory of Water (5 shows only)

Theatre 317

Playing at Theatre La Chapelle, 3700 rue St. Dominique

Tuesday, April 8-Saturday, April 12 at 8:00pm

Tickets: 25$ regular, 20$ students
To purchase tickets: 514-989-1336



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