Sleepy Tunes In Toronto

Abstract

Back in the Dark Ages — that period of our cultural and theatrical development before Theatre Passe Muraille discovered collective creation as a viable alternative to traditionally-scripted drama — I remember trying to find my way one rainy night through the incensed halls of Rochdale College to see a production of Paul Foster’s off-Broadway hit, Tom Paine. When I finally found the space, I was told by Jim Garrard, the director of the piece and the founder of the group that would eventually call itself Passe Muraille (Beyond the Walls), that they were having trouble getting production rights to the script. This, for all intents and purposes, on opening night. Nevertheless, the show went on, Tom Paine spoke out for human freedom and the modern phase of theatrical growth in Toronto was officially ushered in.