The show must go on
Soulpepper Theatre Company stages new production despite sexual harassment allegations
TORONTO — The show will go on at Toronto-based Soulpepper Theatre Company.
On Jan. 13, just over a week after four actresses filed separate lawsuits against the company and founding artistic director Albert Schultz, the theatre debuts its next production: American playwright Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prizewinning A Delicate Balance.
The Schultz scandal has posed a conundrum for patrons and artists alike, who must decide whether to support a production at Soulpepper as the company further investigates sexual harassment claims.
The lawsuits filed by Diana Bentley, Kristin Booth, Patricia Fagan and Hannah Miller allege Schultz groped them, exposed himself, pressed against them, or otherwise behaved inappropriately.
None of their allegations have been tested in court and neither Schultz nor Soulpepper have filed a statement of defence. Schultz said he will “vigorously defend” himself against the allegations.
Soulpepper has said it was unaware of any allegations of sexual misconduct against Schultz or anyone else, having conducted investigations into the issue as recently as this past fall.
Some patrons plan to boycott Soulpepper until it overhauls its board of directors, while others feel more comfortable attending a show now that Schultz has resigned and an upcoming production of Amadeus that he was slated to direct has been cancelled. Alan Dilworth is now acting artistic director.
Requests to speak to Soulpepper and A Delicate Balance cast members were declined.
Toronto actor Brendan Wall, who had a nine-year relationship with Soulpepper, said he knows some of the talent in the A Delicate Balance and is planning to see the show. At the same time, he supports the women who filed the lawsuits and he wants their voices to be at the forefront. “The theatre company has been the home to an enormous amount of talented and creative people, many of whom I call my friends,” said Wall.
“In the last week and a half I’ve been thinking about the men and women who work every day in the office and have made that place their home. I 100 per cent believe the allegations made by Diana and Kristin and Hannah and Patricia, and I support them 100 per cent...”
Lisa Wakelam, a theatre enthusiast based in Hamilton, is a longtime Soulpepper subscriber and has tickets to see A Delicate Balance on Jan. 20. When she first heard of the accusations at Soulpepper, she felt “unease, shock” about attending a production there. But Schultz’s resignation changed her mind.
“Having digested everything, we have to support the organization and the artists and I’m glad that they’re proceeding,” Wakelam said.
Soulpepper co-founder Ted Dykstra, who isn’t working on A Delicate Balance, did not want to be interviewed but said he’s also glad the show is going ahead.
A Delicate Balance is about an upper-middle-class family and the drama that ensues when the daughter returns home and friends move in.
Diana Leblanc, a Soulpepper founding member, is directing.
“Diana Leblanc is a very, very, very intelligent woman and I think she’s a passionate theatre artist and I think anything she has to say is worth listening to,” Wall said.
Wakelam said she expects there might be some tension in the audience. “You’re going to be looking around at what other reactions are, like to sort of people-watch and listen in as I’m sitting there.”
Past Soulpepper productions of The Gigli Concert and Hosanna have moved her to tears and she hopes the company will weather the storm. “It’s just a fantastic organization. I have preached about them for many years, they do a fantastic job. I like their approach to things...I think it will continue.”