Slings & Arrows: Tragedy & Comedy in a Small Town (GIVEAWAY!)

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?

Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1

Paul Gross stars in Slings & Arrows

We’re at the height of the new fall television season, and I’m captivated by a Canadian series that ended three years ago. In my defense, Eastwick star and Nice Boy Paul Gross is the lead in Slings & Arrows, so I claim relevance. Slings & Arrows follows a Shakesperean theatre company in fictional New Burbage as they mount productions of various plays, providing enough backstage drama, comedy and tragedy to keep a playwright in material for years.

Season 1 begins with the debut of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the newly commercialized New Burbage Theatre Festival, juxtaposed with the collapse of an independent theatre house run by Geoffrey Tennant (Paul Gross). Geoffrey was once New Burbage’s shining star, a brilliant actor whose Hamlet is the stuff of legend. Unfortunately, he suffered a mental breakdown during a performance of Hamlet seven years ago and has been on the fringe ever since. His indie endeavor is bankrupt and it appears he’s headed for rock bottom again when Oliver Welles (Stephen Ouimette), New Burbage’s artistic director and Tennant’s former mentor, dies suddenly.

With artistic leadership of the festival up for grabs, the backstage theatrics pale in comparison to what’s happening in the boardroom. Geoffrey’s eventual return to New Burbage as artistic director causes reprecussions for everyone from business director Richard Smith-Jones (Mark McKinney pulling double duty as writer & actor) and his Type A girlfriend, Texan Holly Day (Still Standing’s Jennifer Irwin) to lead actress Ellen Fanshaw (Martha Burns) and too-hip-for-his-own-good director Darren Nichols (Don McKellar).

Rachel McAdams stars in Slings & Arrows

The first season of Slings & Arrows, which lasts a far too short 6 episodes, focuses on the transition at the festival and Geoffrey’s trials & tribulations of mounting a production of Hamlet. In addition to everything else going on, Geoffrey has inherited a movie star Hamlet who no one thinks has the acting chops for the role; a Gertrude with little respect for her fellow thespians; and an Ophelia whose acting is so terrible it can only be assumed that she’s related to someone on the board of directors. Will he maintain a hold on his sanity long enough to pull off his first production?

Paul Gross won the Gemini (Canada’s Emmy equivalent) three times for his nuanced portrayal of Geoffrey, deftly walking the line between brilliance and insanity. Martha Burns won twice for her acerbic yet vulnerable portrayal of leading lady Ellen; talented and married to Paul Gross (since 1988)? Trying not to be jealous…  Slings & Arrows also features a glowing, Gemini-winning performance by a pre-Notebook Rachel McAdams as the new ingenue at the festival whose talent and nice girl ways win her both friends and enemies. Slings & Arrows is smart, witty, engaging, and poignant with sparkling dialogue and intricate characterizations. I watched season 1 in less than 24 hours, and am now jonesing for seasons 2 and 3. I blame Canada.

Win a Copy of Slings & Arrows

Want to watch the show yourself? We’ve partnered with Acorn Media to give away three (3) copies of Slings & Arrowsseason 1 on DVD to three (3) lucky winners. Here’s how to enter:

• Leave a comment below and tell us the title of your favorite play, Shakespeare or otherwise;
• Be sure to include a valid email address so we can contact the winners;
• Comments must be posted by 11:59PM PT on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 to be eligible;
• Winners will be drawn at random from eligible entries and notified via email.

Good luck! Don’t forget to watch Paul Gross in Eastwick Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

**The contest is over. Thanks for participating!**