Slings and Arrows courtesy Acorn Media
This dramedy, about the foibles and follies of a Canadian theater troupe, is one of my all-time favorite television series. Filled with irreverent, hilarious dialogue and heart-felt performances that can't help but ring true, Slings & Arrows was the kind of show that comes around far too rarely. In addition to the on-stage antics and the backstage romances of the actors, the show deals with the uproarious struggles of Richard (series co-creator Mark McKinney of Kids in the Hall) to keep the fictional New Burbage Theatre Festival afloat. If this all sounds dauntingly intellectual — OK, it was uncommonly smart, but the laughs come often and sometimes with such force that you'll be rolling on the ground. Each of the three season centered on one of Shakespeare's great tragedies (Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear), which made room for guest-stars like Rachel McAdams and Sarah Polley, as well as veteran stage actor William Hutt, whose turn as a man fulfilling his dying wish of playing King Lear led to some truly spine-tingling moments (this was in fact one of Hutt's final performances, as he himself died of leukemia not long after). The complete set includes seven discs covering the series' 18 episodes; among the extras are extended and deleted scenes, song lyrics (trust me, you'll find yourself singing along), cast and crew interviews and on-set footage. Don't miss this true gem of a television show! — Nina Hämmerling Smith
Buy Slings & Arrows: The Complete Collection on Amazon.com
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