"Slings and Arrows" (2003) TV series 2003-2006

User Rating:

8.9/10   

Creators:

Susan Coyne
Bob Martin
Mark McKinney

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

3 November 2003 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The real show is backstage.

Plot:

In the fictional town of New Burbage, legendary theatrical madman Geoffrey Tennant returns to the New Burbage Theatre Festival...

Plot Keywords:

Theatre | Mentor | Theatre Audience | Play Within Film | Theatre Production

Awards:

21 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

Martha Burns	...	Ellen Fanshaw (18 episodes, 2003-2006)
Paul Gross	...	Geoffrey Tennant (18 episodes, 2003-2006)
Don McKellar	...	Darren Nichols (18 episodes, 2003-2006)
Mark McKinney	...	Richard Smith-Jones (18 episodes, 2003-2006)
Oliver Dennis	...	Jerry (18 episodes, 2003-2006)
Stephen Ouimette	...	Oliver Welles (17 episodes, 2003-2006)
Susan Coyne	...	Anna Conroy (17 episodes, 2003-2006)
Graham Harley	...	Cyril (16 episodes, 2003-2006)
Michael Polley	...	Frank (16 episodes, 2003-2006)
Catherine Fitch	...	Maria (16 episodes, 2003-2006)
Leon Pownall	...	Brian (12 episodes, 2003-2005)
Rothaford Gray	...	Nahum (9 episodes, 2003-2005)
Sean Cullen	...	Basil (9 episodes, 2003-2005)
Matt Fitzgerald	...	Sloan (8 episodes, 2003-2005)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Australia:M | Canada:A

Company:

Rhombus Media

Trivia:

Paul Gross plays Geoffrey Tennant, a stage actor best known (before his mental breakdown) for his performance as Hamlet. In an episode of "Due South" (1994) titled "A Hawk and a Handsaw", Gross' character Benton pretends to be insane, not unlike the character of Hamlet. The name of the episode comes from a line in Hamlet where he tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he can "tell a hawk from a handsaw" -- that he is sane.

Quotes:

Richard Smith-Jones: I can't comfort you right now - I'm on hold.

Brilliant!

I can not praise this show enough. It portrays every character and situation with a cutting accuracy, which may seem ludicrous at first glance, but is actually not exaggerated in the slightest. A director who just doesn't care about the details, an actress who's the star of the show... and knows it. A holier-than-thou leading actress who's missing one thing- talent, a lonely understudy and a movie star trying to prove himself; what else can you ask for?

Paul Gross's performance is stunning, and for those of us who saw his 'Hamlet' (which he actually acted in at the alternate reality setting of the show- the Stratford Festival) laughter abounds. People who watch Slings and Arrows will laugh. Actors or Theatre Goers who watch Slings and Arrows will be rolling on the floor within seconds.

Two thumbs up and a standing ovation- Paul Gross, I applaud you to the very echo.