7.9/10118 votes#1 - Oliver's Dream
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 11/3/2003
Seven years after suffering a mental breakdown during a performance of "Hamlet" at the New Burbage Festival, Geoffrey Tennant is struggling to make ends meet, managing the dilapidated Theatre Sans Argent (Theatre Without Money). Oliver Welles, still the artistic director at the festival, is mounting his tenth identical production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and is worried that his has lost his creative edge. Richard Smith-Jones, general manager of the festival, attempts to save the funding as their sponsor, Lenstrex, goes through a change of management. The new Lenstrex liaison, Holly Day, seems interest in the festival, and in Richard. Kate McNab, an actress making her debut in the play, is shocked that her high school drama teacher wants to give up his teaching career to act in the festival.
Director: Peter Wellington
Writer: N/A
- 8.4/1089 votes
#2 - Geoffrey Returns
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 11/10/2003
Richard find himself overwhelmed trying to keep the festival running smoothly in the wake of Oliver's death. Kate ditches rehearsals to audition for a Corny Smacks commercial, and unwittingly runs into Hollywood action star Jack Crew. Jack has been hired to play Hamlet in the festival, but his arrival has been forgotten during the preparations for Oliver's funeral. Emma begins a relationship with Sloan, a young flower deliveryman who rescues her neglected chameleon. Geoffrey visits the funeral home, and questions his sanity when Oliver begins to speak to him from "the other side". Richard turns Oliver's funeral into a stage production in an attempt to be promoted to artistic director. Despite his delivering of a scathing speech at Oliver's funeral, the board of directors offers the job of artistic director to Geoffrey, on a temporary basis. Anna asks Geoffrey to help carry out Oliver's final request, a request that may have legal implications.
Director: Peter Wellington
Writer: N/A
- 8.8/1093 votes
#3 - Madness in Great Ones
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/17/2003
Geoffrey hands the actual production of Hamlet over to Stage Director Darren Nichols, so that he can devote himself to supervising the Festival's new money-making scheme, the "Shakespeare in Business Seminar". Holly Day spirits Richard off to Toronto to see Mamma Mia and indulge in more scheming. Kate and Jack enjoy a movie-popcorn afternoon while tongues wag. Geoffrey manages to alienate everyone when he is interviewed by a theatre critic, then gets drunk and challenges Darren to a sword duel.
Director: Peter Wellington
Writer: N/A
- 8.8/1077 votes
#4 - Outrageous Fortune
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/24/2003
In jail after his escapade at Ellen's party, Geoffrey is visited by the ghost of his dead mentor Oliver, who cousels him on the danger of trying to ignore his past feelings for Ellen, the woman who once broke his heart. Meanwhile, Holly and Richard work on their merchandising scheme, which involves a Shakespeare themed village of retail stores. Geoffrey is finally forced to fire Darren as director, to the relief of the cast but the worry of the Board of Directors.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.9/1087 votes
#5 - A Mirror Up to Nature
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 12/1/2003
With Geoffrey now directing the production of Hamlet, Richard and Holly fear that his success may doom their plan to redirect corporate resources to the Shakespeare Village. But their attempt to derail the production is foiled by one of the actors literally "breaking a leg."
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 9.2/10101 votes
#6 - Playing the Swan
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 12/8/2003
It's opening day and the play's leading man, in a low ebb of self-esteem, has gone missing. Richard is revealed as a traitor to the company of actors. Ellen reveals to Geoffrey what really happened that night 7 years before. With Kate's help, can the play go on?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Slings & Arrows Season 1
Every episode of Slings & Arrows Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Slings & Arrows Season 1!
This darkly comic Canadian series follows the fortunes of a dysfunctional Shakespearean theatre troupe at the fictional New Burbage Festival, exposing the high drama, scorching...
Genres:DramaComedy
Network:The Movie Network
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Oliver's Dream" is the best rated episode of "Slings & Arrows" season 1. It scored 7.9/10 based on 118 votes. Directed by Peter Wellington and written by N/A, it aired on 11/3/2003. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Geoffrey Returns".