SUMMERWORKS WRAP-UP

By Jon Kaplan and Glenn Sumi

Could audiences and artists have had a hotter 11 days than this past SummerWorks? Not likely.

It was probably the heat that kept audience numbers down from last year's figures, because there was lots of good theatre to draw viewers.

Sarah Martyn's Sparta won the audience choice award, while the juried SummerWorks prize -- and a free slot in next year's festival -- went to writer/performer Matthew MacFadzean for richard the second.

But jurors Clinton Walker and Caroline Azar were so impressed with Kevin Rees-Cummings's Rabid that they're personally sponsoring a second prize and providing the producing company, HammerHead, a return visit to SummerWorks. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is.

Here are NOW's choices for the best of SummerWorks 2001.

Outstanding New Plays

Flight 198; The Malaysia Hotel; Five Fingers; Our Father/Matador Love

Outstanding Productions

Sideshow Of The Damned; richardthesecond

Outstanding Performances

Matthew MacFadzean (richardthesecond); Karin Randoja (Think On Her); Allison Rees-Cummings and Ryan McVittie (Rabid); Bill Kischuck (van Gogh)

Outstanding Ensembles

Little Freedoms; yagayah; Ceasefire; Sideshow Of The Damned; The Malaysia Hotel; Unpossible Elevator; Five Fingers; Our Father/Matador Love