The Citizen, 2016-02-04, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016. PAGE 23.
Garratt, Thompson lead `Fighting 61st' research
Getting into character
Daniel Roberts, left, and Cam Laurie with Blyth Festival
Artistic Director Gil Garratt in the background, have been
hard at work researching The Fighting 61st' in Huron
County over the last few weeks. The group will continue its
work over the next two months ahead of a potential fall
production date. (Fiona Sauder photo)
Continued from page 22
she said, as many of the roles
normally filled by men in that era
were being covered by women
during the war years.
Some of the characters found
themselves very involved in what
was happening on the front lines.
One woman Sauder will portray
drove ambulances in the First World
War. Though not originally from
Huron County, the woman will be
made to be from Huron County for
the production's purposes, and
Sauder said she found the woman's
story and heroics inspiring.
Much of the research the group
has been undertaking has been done
at local museums and libraries,
where they have spent weeks poring
through newspapers, letters and
artifacts from the years of World War
I.
Through this process, they have
discovered characters, stories and
relationships, all from which they
plan to draw for work on The
Fighting 61st.
One major source of information
has been a book that was compiled
by a man called Sandy McDonald.
While rich in information,
Thompson essentially called the
book a museum curator's nightmare,
as the volume contains pictures and
items literally taped in place.
Material had been added to the
book, the actors said, as late as the
Courtney event set for Feb. 13
The Family Day Courtney Farm
get-together is returning to its roots
this year after memorializing the
event last year for the late Kenny
Plunkett.
Family patriarch Gary Courtney
told The Citizen that the event,
which runs from 1 p.m. until 1 a.m.
on Feb. 13, has become a big hit
with friends and family.
The event, which is held at the
Courtney farm on Scott Line, is a
tradition that started with family and
friends and has expanded into a
Blyth community event.
The event last year was
accompanied by a raffle to raise
funds for Austin Plunkett, the son of
the late Kenny, who passed away in
a motor vehicle collision in August
of 2014.
Courtney explained that Kenny,
who was a part of the event until his
death, is still present and that the
"Sweetest Sled" Award, which is
given to the best antique
snowmobile present during the
event, is given in memory of him.
The event is an all -ages one,
featuring the antique `sled' show for
snowmobile fans as well as
tobogganing, snowshoeing and
cross-country skiing for people of all
ages.
There are also three campfires
around the property to keep
everyone warm and to provide a
place for people to gather and chat
as well as meals made to keep
everyone fed including hot dogs and
chili.
Courtney said that this year the
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event is featuring what has made it
great in the past. He said that the
trails have been maintained and
people are welcome to show up any
time after 1 p.m.
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1970s and 1980s, but it was then
abandoned and made its way into the
Huron County Museum system.
Though it's the opinion of those
involved with The Fighting 61st that
the book was likely destined for
publication once complete, the
circumstances surrounding it are
unclear at best.
In addition to official research
conducted at places like libraries and
museums, the group has also been
out at coffee shops, restaurants, local
Legion branches and people's
homes — anywhere a story may be
hiding, they said.
It has been through this personal
connection to the subject matter,
whether it's holding and reading
someone's handwritten letter or
meeting a descendant of someone
they've researched, that the actors all
say they feel a tremendous sense of
responsibility to do these local
stories justice.
Ham said that a recurring theme
with the actors when they meet
people connected to a character they
wish to portray is that they pledge to
do their best to tell that person's
story.
"That's important for so many
reasons," Ham said, adding that it's
not only personally important to
members of that family, but
important to members of the Huron
County community as well.
And while the process has been
educational and inspiring at times, it
has also been difficult, Ham said.
The process of collective theatre
can be very frustrating he said, but
it's that frustration that sometimes
bears the sweetest fruit.
While the research portion of the
project has been largely prevalent in
the early weeks, there have also been
a number of dramatic exercises
where there has been frustration, as
well as breakthroughs.
The group agrees that its work is
far from over, both in terms of
research and drama, with plenty
more for them to learn in both areas.
Garratt said that from a Blyth
Festival perspective, he couldn't be
happier about what's going on.
Historically a hotbed of activity in
the summer months, he says it's
great to have brilliant, eager actors in
Blyth for three months of a Huron
County winter, when things are
known to often slow down.
The group will continue shaping
the production over the course of the
next two months, ahead of hopeful
production, though not yet finalized,
this fall.
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