For immediate release:
Press contact: Bill Largess
EMAIL: pr@stageguild.org
(202) 900-8788
Washington Stage Guild presents an online performance of
DEAR LIAR
by Jerome Kilty
Adapted from the correspondence between Bernard Shaw and Mrs. Patrick Campbell
To reserve tickets, click below:
September 29 – October 3, 2021
30 August, 2021: The Washington Stage Guild continues our series of online presentations with a play perfectly suited to an online format. To follow our well-received streamed performances of George Bernard Shaw’s Don Juan in Hell, The Devil’s Disciple and How He Lied to Her Husband, we offer a play that explores the private life of our “house playwright,” Jerome Kilty’s 1957 epistolary play, Dear Liar.
At the turn of the 20th century, George Bernard Shaw was establishing his place among the world’s greatest playwrights. One of the actresses in the London theatre at the time was a woman whose career would last for decades and would intersect with Shaw’s in a way that would change them both. Mrs. Patrick Campbell had achieved fame and artistic success in the 1890s, and Shaw knew she could do wonders with his plays. Eventually the chastely married GBS became infatuated with her, an infatuation she did little to discourage. As he by turns desired her and was frustrated by her, they kept up a correspondence worthy of two great wits, and Mrs. Pat was able to maintain the relationship long enough for Shaw to write one of his best roles for her– Eliza Doolittle. In the 1950s, actor Jerome Kilty adapted their letters, and their extraordinary up-and-down friendship, into the play Dear Liar, a huge hit in London and New York. Mrs. Pat is not well-remembered now, so it gives us great pleasure to reintroduce her to our audience and to give you a glimpse of an infatuated Shaw.
Founding company member Laura Giannarelli will direct. Having directed the Stage Guild’s online presentation of G.B. Shaw’s The Devil’s Disciple earlier this year, Giannarelli relishes this chance to explore Mr. Shaw’s private life and his fascinating relationship with one of the great actresses of his day. Giannarelli says, “It’s wonderful to be able to watch the connection between these two extraordinary individuals develop as the play unfolds. The Zoom format works perfectly for this play. Through their letters, we experience the ups and downs of both their professional and personal lives in such an intimate way – in close up from the comfort of our own homes. I am also thrilled to be working with these two marvelous actors, known to audiences across our region.”
To view this unique performance, patrons can go to our event page at www.ShowTix4U.com/events/wsg and follow the prompts to obtain a free ticket good for a 48 hour rental period for viewing the presentation.
Having obtained their free ticket, viewers may ‘tune in’ anytime beginning Wednesday, September 29th at 8 PM; the performance will be available — day or evening — until Sunday, October 3rd at 8 PM.
Our wonderful company:
- Nigel Reed* (George Bernard Shaw) returns to the Washington Stage Guild where he was last seen as Garth Williams in Alabama Story with Julie-Ann Elliott. He has appeared in several past WSG productions including The Underpants, Getting Married, On The Rocks, A Skull In Connemara and more. Mr. Reed is a past Helen Hayes Award winner, and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
- Julie-Ann Elliott* (Mrs. Patrick Campbell) is happily working with Washington Stage Guild again, where most recently she was seen in the streamed production of How He Lied to Her Husband and where she last crossed their boards, along with Nigel Reed, as librarian Emily Reed in Alabama Story. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
- Video Editor – Lauren Hyland
- Zoom Production Manager/Stage Manager – Elaine Randolph*
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association
Dear Liar is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Dear Liar will be streamed free of charge under an agreement with The Theatre Authority and Actors’ Equity Association.
