REVIEW: ‘Slings & Arrows’ is delightful, delicious, de-lovely
Photo: Luke Kirby and Rachel McAdams star in the first season of Slings & Arrows. Photo courtesy of Acorn TV / Provided by press site with permission.
This COVID-19 pandemic has so many people sitting at home looking for quality, binge-worthy TV shows that can eat many hours of malaise. Should they go with a murder mystery? A tear-jerking drama? Tiger King? How about something delightful?
Delightful is the key word when describing the great Canadian series Slings & Arrows, now available on DVD from Acorn TV. The show, with all three seasons compiled into one collection, is a love letter for those who love theater, especially the work of William Shakespeare.
The pilot opens up with the tale of two theater companies. One is hugely successful and underwritten by a large corporate giant. Their Shakespeare production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is not terribly inventive, but seems to fit the hobnobbing opening-night crowd just fine. The artistic director of this swanky outfit is Oliver, played with exacting aplomb by Stephen Ouimette.
The other theater company is run by Geoffrey Tennant (a never better Paul Gross), but his fortunes are less desirous. His little troupe, who are performing an avant-garde version of The Tempest, can’t seem to get the stage directions correct, and the ticket sales don’t pay for the roof over their heads. Still, he’s able to unclog the theater’s toilet, which is a plus.
When Geoffrey’s troupe members are finally evicted from the premises, the director must lick his wounds and consider heading back to Oliver, his mentor. A well-rounded supporting cast includes Rachel McAdams, Luke Kirby, Colm Feore and Sarah Polley. William Hutt turns up in season three.
The show, which ran from 2003 to 2006, comes from the mind of Susan Coyne, Bob Martin and Mark McKinney — all of whom act in the series. Martin should be known to Broadway fans because he’s one of the creative forces behind the Tony-winning The Drowsy Chaperone, plus Elf: The Musical and The Prom, which is being adapted for a Netflix movie. McKinney, who plays a pivotal character in Slings & Arrows, is perhaps best remembered for his time on The Kids in the Hall and Saturday Night Live.
Slings & Arrows is funny, but not over the top. It’s sometimes dramatic, but never wallowing in obviousness. It has some romance and intrigue as well. More than anything, it’s an intelligent, heartfelt, delightful labor of love that will entrance Shakespeare lovers to no end. It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s de-lovely.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Slings & Arrows is now available on DVD from Acorn TV. Starring Paul Gross, Martha Burns, Stephen Ouimette, Susan Coyne, Don McKellar, Mark McKinney, Oliver Dennis, Sarah Polley, Rachel McAdams and Michael Polley. Created by Coyne, McKinney and Bob Martin. Rating: 
