Eye Opener (1965)

Run Time - 120 min.  |   Countries - United States  |  
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Befitting its title, the Canadian anthology series Eye Opener offered startling and surprising examples of experimental dance and drama, designed to illustrate the pressing social issues of the day. Though most of the pieces presented herein were originals, a handful were adaptations of Canadian literary classics. The casts included such home-grown talent as John Vernon and Don Francks, while among the contributing writers were Jules Feiffer, Harold Pinter, and Muriel Spark. One program, staged by Chicago's famed Second City troupe, is said to have inspired the creation of another Second City in Canada -- and the rest, as they say, is history. Twelve programs were broadcast in all; a 13th offering, LeRoi Jones' controversial one-act play Dutchman, was announced, but never shown. Eye Opener was shown over the CBC from January 5 to March 23, 1965.