Ep 1. Oliver's Dream

Oliver's Dream is the first episode of the Canadian television show Slings & Arrows. The show is set in the fictional town of New Burbage, in Ontario, and follows the ups and downs of a dysfunctional Shakespearean theatre company, the New Burbage Theatre Festival, as they prepare and perform their latest productions.

The episode introduces us to the struggling theatre company, which is in the midst of rehearsals for their upcoming production of Hamlet. The artistic director, Geoffrey Tennant, played by Paul Gross, is a former actor who had a nervous breakdown during a performance of the same play years ago. He has returned to take charge of the festival, following the untimely death of his mentor, the former artistic director Oliver Welles.

At the beginning of the episode, we see Geoffrey struggling to stage a dream sequence for the play, which he believes is essential to its success. However, his actors are resistant to the idea and want to focus on getting the rest of the play right, without the flashy theatrics.

We are then introduced to the rest of the ensemble, including Ellen Fanshaw, the lead actress who has been performing the same role for years and is feeling uninspired, and her co-star Jack Crew, a young and enthusiastic actor who is eager to prove himself.

The rehearsal scenes are interspersed with flashbacks to Oliver Welles, who appears in Geoffrey's dreams and memories. Through these flashbacks, we learn about the history of the festival and the relationship between Oliver and Geoffrey. We also see Oliver's final moments, where he collapses on stage during a performance of King Lear.

As rehearsals progress, tensions begin to rise between the actors and Geoffrey, as he tries to impose his artistic vision on the production. He clashes with Ellen, who is resistant to change, and with the festival's business manager, Richard Smith-Jones, who is more concerned with the financial success of the production than its artistic merits.

The episode climaxes with a disastrous dress rehearsal, where everything seems to go wrong. Geoffrey is on the verge of a breakdown, and the future of the festival hangs in the balance.

Overall, Oliver's Dream is a compelling and witty introduction to the world of Slings & Arrows. The characters are richly drawn, and the performances are excellent, particularly from Paul Gross as Geoffrey. The show is a love letter to the theatre, and it explores the passion and dedication that goes into the making of a play. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in the theatre, or anyone who enjoys sharp and engaging television.