"We are all born mad. Some remain so."
~Samuel Beckett
The Fall After Midsummer
written and directed by Chloë Whitehorn
Tania and Ron's fairytale romance was like a dream, until it wasn't. Ron needs help, Tania's over it, and Nick has lost his head over it all.
A modern sequel to one of Shakespeare’s most toxic love stories.
Starring:
Shannon Donnelly (Tania)
Michael Donnelly (Ron)
At the TK Fringe Festival
Venue #1 Baby Grand Theatre
Friday August 2, 8:20pm
Saturday August 3, 5:00pm
Sunday August 4, 6:40pm
Monday August 5, 6:40pm
Wednesday August 7, 5:20pm
Thursday August 8, 8:40pm
Saturday August 10, 5:40pm
Sunday August 11, 3:20pm
Note from the playwright
Some of Shakespeare's characters are so romanticized, like the morally grey characters from Romantasy (romantic fantasy) and other books popularized on TikTok (#BookTok) and I just thought... That's really toxic. Throughout history we've been writing these dominant male characters that do horrible things, for readers and audience to lust after so that we're, what? Trained to want that? To put up with that in real life?
Anyways, I thought it needed addressing. So, obvious content warnings for anyone with emotionally abusive triggers.
Shannon Donnelly (Tania)
Shannon Donnelly is an award winning actor who has performed on stages across Ontario. She fell in love with acting at six and has pursued that passion ever since. As an alumnus of the University of Ottawa in Theatre and graduate with honours of the St. Lawrence College's Musical Theatre program, Shannon has experience with many aspects of the craft including costuming, makeup, film, theatre and voice acting.
Some of her favourite roles include Aunt Eller (Oklahoma!) Baroness Schroeder (Sound of Music), Jane (Babe Ruth Comes to Pickle River), and as the Usherette (Rocky Horror Show). Recent roles include Hera (Harmonia), Sarah (Company), Diane (Blood River) and Witch Hazel (The Witch and the Glitch).
Shannon is thrilled to again be working with the talented Chloë Whitehorn on another of her beautifully written plays. She is also happy to be performing alongside her fabulous husband once more. Off stage she lives happily as a makeup artist and instructor and full time mum to her two amazing little girls.
Michael Donnelly (Ron)
A Graduate with Honours of St Lawrence College's Musical Theatre Performance Program, Michael's favourite roles include "Avenue Q" as Nicky/Bad Idea Bear/Trekkie Monster, Tony in "West Side Story", and Leo Bloom in "The Producers". Most recently, he has performed as Blood in "Harmonia" (Grapevine Theatre) , as Paul in "Company" (Inspired Productions), and as Paragon in "The Witch and the Glitch" (Bottle Tree Productions).
Michael has performed Chloë Whitehorn's work before, having originated the role of Mr. Wonderful/ Oliver in her play "Love, Virtually", and is very excited to work with her again. It is a special thrill to bring life to a new role, and to work with such incredibly talented professionals is truly a privilege.
Between productions, Michael can be found recording music at home, and raising our incredible girls, Evelyn and Isabelle, and is so grateful to them for letting us pursue our love of theatre together!
Chloë Whitehorn (Playwright/Director)
Described as "Dorothy Parker meets Neil Labute meets M. Night Shyamalan", Chloë Whitehorn is an award winning playwright, actor, and wearer of black dresses. A graduate of Queen's University's theatre program, Chloë’s work often examines taboo moralities, tragic love, and the broken bits of ourselves we all try to hide. Born in California, Chloë's hippie-artist mother raised her in a world of circus artists, puppeteers and activists until moving to Canada where she spent her days figure skating, writing short stories, and developing a love of theatre. Her plays include: Blood River (Theatre Kingston 2023), Dressing Amelia (Bottletree 2024), The Pigeon (TK Fringe 2018 & Top Ten Shows in Toronto of 2018), Love, Virtually (Best of Fringe Toronto 2011), Mourning After the Night Before, Divine Wrecks, and How to Not Die Horribly in a Fire. Productions of her plays have been performed across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.​ Find more on her website: www.chloewhitehorn.com