“It Was Kit” Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UNTIL JULY 17, 2006
Please add to your listings / announcements.
Media Contact: MJ Shaw, (647) 435.9243 or mj@melissajaneshaw.com
Triple Take Productions and Mad Frau Productions Present
IT WAS KIT: The ‘True’ Story of Christopher Marlowe
World Premiere at Toronto Fringe 2006!
Written by Allison McWood.
Music by Mauri Hall.
Producers: Regan Macaulay, Allison McWood, Kelsey Matheson,
Kevin Risk and Dan Staheli
CAST: Chris Coculuzzi, Graham Coffeng, Stephen Flett, Chantale Groulx, John Healy, Albert Masters, Kelsey Matheson, Scott Moore, Jason Reilly, Kevin Risk, Melissa-Jane Shaw and Jeff White
Toronto, Ontario: The soul of one of history’s most renowned and controversial playwrights will finally be able to rest after this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival – thanks to Allison McWood’s new comedy “It Was Kit: The ‘True’ Story of Christopher Marlowe.” Opening on Thursday, July 6 at 6:30pm and running through until Sunday, July 16 at the Tarragon Theatre Mainspace, this fun-filled-farce is sure to entertain the masses!
With dozens of Fringe shows to choose from, here’s a dozen reasons why we’re not a dime a dozen!!
1) It Was Kit is a play set in the Renaissance, the week before and directly after the death of Christopher Marlowe – solving the mystery behind one of the most murderous controversies of the English Renaissance!
2) It Was Kit is a new work, by award-winning Canadian playwright Allison McWood who has another show in this year’s Fringe, her musical Welcome to Eden, Population: 2, being produced by Derrick Chua.
3) The production company has a website… www.dev.tripletake.net… and all the kids love surfing!
4) There’s real life (well, once alive) historical characters: Thomas Kyd, Robert Greene, Ingram Frizer, Eleanor Bull, Richard Baines, William Shakespeare, Anne Hathaway… laced with actual historical quotes and references – as well as numerous contemporary liberties – it’s part history lesson, part beautiful bastardization!
5) To spice up the stew there’s three stooge-like bumbling spies, two over-zealous atheists and a prudish roommate with a strange ‘fetish’. Add a dash of monarchy, a squeeze of anarchy, plus a covert death plot – and we have a delicious dish of murder and espionage that have never been so tasty!
6) We have original music composed by Mauri Hall based in Renaissance style, with contemporary touches.
7) Shakespeare gets all the attention – and we’re sick and tired of it.
8) The Costume Designer Michelle Bailey is employing a big-word concept known as the omni-garment… basically dressing up turtlenecks and tights with a few fancy pieces to look like something we can’t afford.
9) Our ASM James Wisteard has red dreadlocks and a lip ring.
10) The Director Regan Macaulay says smart things like: “It is my hope that the underlying concepts will contribute to the complete atmosphere of the play and create a modern farce set in a Renaissance moment.” Whoa. Who would have guessed she’s been busy directing reality TV and docs!?
11) A guy named Chris (Coculuzzi) is playing Chris (Marlowe)! Not to mention Chris is a serious Fringe Alumnae (sixth production!) including heading Upstart Crow’s sporty adaptations of Shakespeare (2001-5).
12) The cast of a dozen have some serious chops under their belts and brocades, including: Graham Coffeng (Rick in Bat Boy – Bathurst St. Theatre; Mamma Mia! – Mirvish; Gilbert in Anne Of Green Gables – Charlottetown Festival; The Music Man and Amadeus – Stratford Festival); John Healy (past fringing includes: The Canterbury Tales and The Revenger’s Tragedy. Past big screening includes: Cinderella Man, American Psycho 2 and The Art of Woo); Kelsey Matheson (In Between – Noble Players and Puppets Who Kill); Melissa-Jane Shaw (Lust Labour’s Lost – Fringe 2005 Patron’s Pick; Gracie Allen in George & Gracie; Chorus Line – Stage West; Ross Petty’s Snow White); Jeff White (Stratford Conservatory, R&J – Shakespeare Link, Our Fathers – Showtime, Emmy nominated film). Amongst others who did not successfully bribe the publicist…
IT WAS KIT: The ‘True’ Story of Christopher Marlowe… Come and see it – or off with your head!
SHOWTIMES: Thurs, July 6 at 6:30pm / Sat, July 8 at 12:00pm / Mon, July 10 at 4:30pm / Wed, July 12 at 9:15pm / Thurs, July 13 at 4:00pm / Fri, July 14 at 7:00pm / Sun, July 16 at 1:45pm
Venue: TARRAGON THEATRE MAINSPACE, 30 Bridgman Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
Ticket Prices: $10. For More Info Call the Fringe Hotline at 416.966.1062 or www.fringetoronto.com