Watching a play is the second-best way to achieve emotional catharsis, right behind writing a play about achieving emotional catharsis. Tear-stain a playbill with this GrouponLive deal.
The Deal
- General admission to see Ensemble Theatre Company Presents "The Normal Heart," "The Duchess of Malfi," or "The Cripple of Inishmaan"
- When: July 7–31
- Where: The Jericho Arts Centre
- Door time: one hour before showtime
- Ticket values include all fees.
- Click here to view the performance schedule
Ticketing Options
- C$15 for one ticket (up to C$25 value)
- C$25 for two tickets (up to C$50 value)
Available Performances
The Normal Heart: Recently on Broadway, The Normal Heart won three Tonys for its honest, moving revival of playwright Larry Kramer's 1985 onstage wake-up call that alerted America to the urgency of the AIDS epidemic. The human consequences of the crisis unfold onstage as a doctor seeks answers for the growing number of sick gay men on her patients' list. Meanwhile, a writer looks to warn the community about the epidemic and a mayor's aide aims to deflect the political consequences of the disease. Even with more than 25 years of history padded onto its premiere, the production still "blasts you like an open, overstoked furnace," the New York Times declares.
The Duchess of Malfi: A widowed Duchess is in love with a commoner, but her brothers don't want to share their inheritance or sully their name through degrading associations. Yet the Duchess secretly marries Antonio, a steward, anyway. Revenge, devious plotting, and regret come to a head in the aftermath, as it turns out the Duchess's confidante, Bosola, is her brother's spy. The tragedy was written by John Webster in the 1600s, but contains themes that still ring true today, including abuse of power, deception, and the status of women.
The Cripple of Inishmaan: Billy Claven, whose unfortunate nickname is "Cripple Billy," longs to leave the poverty-stricken, wind-strewn island of Inishmaan. Given his physical and financial limitations, though, it doesn't seem possible. Then Hollywood producers begin filming on a nearby island, and Billy seizes his chance to escape a life that up until then has felt cruel. Written by Martin McDonagh, who also penned the dark comedy In Bruges, this play touches upon the loneliness of island life and destiny while maintaining a dark humor.
Ensemble Theatre Company
Although Ensemble Theatre Company strives to entertain, its mission is actually much deeper. The company states that it "sees theatre as an essential cultural force in leading and framing dialogue on important issues of our day." Because of this, it stages works that directly address themes such as poverty, health crises, and the status of women in the world. And its ensemble embraces these themes head-on, encouraging audience members to join in the dialogue after witnessing each thought-provoking work instead of just writing strongly worded opinion pieces in their diaries.