Tickets to Can Rep's HOW DO I LOVE THEE Now On Sale

Tickets are on sale now for Canadian Rep Theatre's presentation of the Toronto premiere of Florence Gibson MacDonald's How Do I Love Thee?, at the Berkeley Street Upstairs Theatre, from January 31 - February 22, 2015.

How Do I Love Thee? is a language-rich exploration of both the euphoric and darker sides of the marriage of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning, Victorian-era poets who enjoyed "rock star status" at the heights of their careers. Directed by Canadian Rep Artistic Director Ken Gass, the production features a stellar cast with Irene Poole and Matthew Edison as Robert and Elizabeth, and Nora McLellan and Richard McMillan in major supporting roles.

Following the euphoria of a heady courtship carried on chiefly through letters, Robert elopes to Italy with Elizabeth, only to discover her lifelong addiction to laudanum and other opiates which fuel her relentless creativity. Yet through all the darkness and complexity of the marriage, love in all its contradictions somehow endures, as epitomized in Barrett's famous Sonnets from the Portuguese.

Ken Gass states: "I'm thrilled to launch Canadian Rep's new season with Florence Gibson MacDonald's delightful exploration of the intricacies of love, creativity and addiction through the marriage of these remarkable poet/personalities, Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. Having been so involved in the early development of the play, as well as witnessing its premiere at ATP in Calgary, I'm pleased to now offer a brand new production in Toronto with this extraordinary cast and creative team."

The production will preview January 31 - February 4; open February 5 and run until February 22. There will be a special Canadian Rep Theatre Gala Benefit Night on Valentine's Day, February 14.

How Do I Love Thee? features Irene Poole (Tarragon Theatre's The Bakelite Masterpiece, The Little Years-Dora Award; Factory Theatre: The Leisure Society-Dora Award; Birdland Theatre: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot-Dora Award) as Elizabeth Barrett Browning; Matthew Edison (Tarragon's Sextet, An Enemy of the People; Canadian Stage's Amadeus, Proof; Soulpepper's A Christmas Carol, Loot) as Robert Browning; Nora McLellan (Theatre 20's Company, recently Stratford Festival's The Matchmaker, King of Thieves; numerous seasons at the Shaw Festival; Vancouver Playhouse's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf-Jessie Award) as Elizabeth's maid, Wilson and Richard McMillan (Tarragon's An Enemy of the People, After Akhmatova; 11 seasons at Stratford Festival; four Dora Awards; Mirvish Productions' The Lion King) as the eccentric poet/patron, John Kenyon. The production is designed by Shawn Kerwin, with costume design by Michael Gianfrancesco. Lighting design by Cameron Davis, with original music and sound design by Wayne Kelso. The stage manager is Diane Konkin.

Florence Gibson MacDonald is an award-winning playwright whose plays include the internationally produced Belle, which premiered at Factory Theatre in 2000, directed by Ken Gass, as well as Elevator, Take Care of Me, Home is My Road (also directed by Ken Gass) and Missing. With choreographer Shawn Byfield, she co-created the Dora Award-winning tap dance show, i think i can. She is currently working on The Fighting Spirit for YPT, her one-woman show Love Handles, and her novel Stout.

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