Australian Premiere - TRYING by JOANNA McCLELLAND GLASS

Director SANDRA BATES
Set Designer NICHOLAS DARE
Costume Designer ANNA ILIC
Lighting Designer PETER NEUFELD

With MICHAEL CRAIG and CATHERINE McGRAFFIN

Elegant, cantankerous and 81 years old, Francis Biddle (Michael Craig) awaits the new secretary his wife has forced upon him to get his life in order. Sarah (Catherine McGraffin) is 25 and, even worse, from Saskatchewan, Canada. Francis doesn't trust her. Francis doesn't trust anyone... his last assistant managed to burn half his books. But Sarah is young, determined, takes shorthand the new 'modern way' and refuses to cry in the bathroom.

Francis Biddle was US Attorney General under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Chief Judge at the Nuremberg trials. What happens after such a stella career? His real life secretary Joanna McClelland Glass shares his post public life story with us. As well as throwing light on the inner workings of a powerful historic figure, this rich and touching play illustrates how two strangers, at two very different points in their lives, can unexpectedly and lastingly influence each other.

Francis: "I may be an invalid but I'm not yet entirely in-valid."

Michael Craig has had a distinguished career spanning more than half a century in film, television and on stage in Australia, the UK and Europe. Previous Ensemble Theatre credits include David Williamson's Travelling North and Arthur Miller's Broken Glass. Catherine McGraffin appeared in David Williamson's Charitable Intent for Ensemble in 2006. They are directed by Ensemble's Artistic and Governing Director Sandra Bates AM who recently won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards.

'The script is glittering, diamond-hard. Magnificently eloquent. A masterpiece of theatrical portraiture.' CHICAGO SUN TIMES

'Like sunrise, Trying infuses a subtle glow into thoughts of human mortality. Don't miss it.' SHOW BUSINESS

SEASON DETAILS: TRYING
VENUE: Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli, NSW
DATES: Previews from 3 May, opening night Fri 11 May, season to 16 June, 2007
PERFORMANCES: Tues -- Fri 8.15pm, Sat 5pm & 8.30pm, Sun 5pm, Thurs 11am
ENSEMBLE PRICES: $37 - $61 (booking fees apply)
BOOKINGS: 02 9929 0644 or www.ensemble.com.au (less info)