Casting Announcement: Soulpepper’s Fool For Love and A Streetcar Named Desire

Fool For Love

Blanche DuBois

"Tennessee Williams put his life and soul into each of his characters and his insights into the human condition are extraordinary. Blanche Dubois is a haunted, complex character full of contradictions and the journey she takes over the course of the play is enormous. I first stepped into her shoes in a scene-study when I was in high school! Twenty years later, I am humbled and honoured to be playing her in this production at Soulpepper, with a brilliant director at the helm."

Cara Gee

Harold 'Mitch' Mitchel

"Ever since I read Mitch's line 'I don't like to wear a wash-coat even in summer because I sweat through it. And it don't look neat on me. A man with a heavy build has got to be careful of what he puts on him so he don't look too clumsy' I knew I wanted to play him. I've always been drawn to this vulnerable, gentle, sweaty man and I'm thrilled to be joining Weyni and this incredible team of artists on this production."

Eion Bailey

Martin

"I'm always attracted to plays that will live and breathe differently from night to night. It explores the caustic bond that love can form and as such is highly unpredictable."

Alex McCooeye

Bottom Row: Eion Bailey, Cara Gee, Alex McCooeye, Stuart Hughes

Stuart Hughes

Stella Kowalski

"I'm excited for the challenge to make this iconic story as real and true as Williams intended -- to share the parts of Stella's humanity that I know, and that so many women know."

A Streetcar Named Desire

Stanley Kowalski

"Because the conflict between the characters in this play aren't supposed to fit in a tidy little box. There is a wildness to it. It's just great writing."

Amy Rutherford

Company

"I am excited to be stepping into this production of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' because of the chance to work with the wonderful Weyni Mengesha again and the rest of this talented cast! This play gives us an opportunity to explore the cross sections of masculinity and femininity in a new way and invites us to have a more complex conversation about it all in 2019."

Leah Doz

Eddie

"With ‘Fool for Love' Sam Shepard wrote a rollicking cowboy poem. In it he expressed the highs and lows of love as he sees it. By playing Eddie, I in turn, get to express what I know about love, loss, longing, and all things known to make the heart ache. Sam also equips Eddie with a shotgun, a lasso, and a bottle of tequila. Should be an interesting evening."

Mac Fyfe

The Old Man

I was involved in a production of ‘Fool For Love' back in 2005. I was very proud of that experience, but it will be exciting to revisit the play, now that I'm 14 years older. I've always found it a privilege to return to a great piece of writing, because you naturally have the opportunity to delve deeper into it. I'm also excited by the particular gang assembled for this production. I feel like its a great group to really grapple with this piece, and Shepard's fascinating world."

Gregory Prest

Company

"I am really excited to make my Soulpepper debut tackling this biting and complex work with Weyni Mengesha at the helm. There's so much to be mined from Williams' seminal work and I know that with the team that's been put together we're going to find something beautiful. I can't wait to get in the room to start digging in with and learning from this talented group of artists."

Akosua Amo-Adem

Sebastian Marziali

By Sam Shepard

On Stage July 13 - August 4 2019

On the edge of the desert, passions are buried deep, and secrets even deeper. Eddie has come to bring May out of hiding and win her back, no matter who stands in the way. This celebrated work from Sam Shepard combines his characteristic dark humour with a raw energy that won't let go.

SATE

May

"I am equal parts excited and terrified to be performing in 'Fool For Love'. I feel an immense responsibility to tell the truth about May's pain and anger and to share the shards of hope she has buried deep down in her heart. It feels like exactly the right time and place to dive into a story about hurt and healing, about grief and love. My heart aches just reading this script. It will be incredible to bring it to life."