City Stage New West is winding up its Sips 'n’ Scripts series for the year with the reading of another once-banned production.
This year’s reading series is themed Censored! Forbidden Classics of the Wicked Stage. Lysistrata, the ribald Greek comedy, was presented in April, followed by a reading of Mae West’s Sex in June.
Winding up the series is a reading of George Bernard Shaw’s shocking play Mrs. Warren’s Profession, running at the Anvil Centre on Friday, Oct. 11 from 7 to 9 p.m.
The play centres on a daughter who learns that her estranged wealthy mother funded her privileged education through prostitution. Banned for 33 years, Shaw’s sharp-witted comedy was an indictment of Victorian society’s moral hypocrisy but remains fresh for contemporary audiences.
“It’s much more than a Shavian Mamma Mia!,” said Renee Bucciarelli, City Stage New West’s artistic director, in a press release. “Mrs. Warren’s Profession still seems as provocative, if not as shocking, as it was originally meant to be. It still asks hard questions.”
The rehearsed reading is directed by Marisa Emma Smith and reunites a stellar cast from her 2014 Alley Theatre production, including Linda Quibell as Mrs. Warren and Melissa Oei as Vivie, her daughter. Tom Pickett, Eric Keenleyside and Daniel Arnold also return, joined by Patrick Sabongui.
As with all Sips 'n’ Scripts readings, the Anvil Centre team has created a featured sip for the occasion. Mrs. Warren’s Tonic will be available at the cash bar during the reading.
The reading is free and open to everyone aged 16 and up. Reservations are encouraged at anvilcentre.com/events/sips-n-scripts-2019, or by calling 604-527-4640.
Check out www.citystagenewwest.org for more information.
