HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-08-15, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013. PAGE 19.
‘Garrison’s Garage’ returns to Blyth Festival
A remount (and slight
modernization) of Garrison’s
Garage at the Blyth Festival Theatre
deserved its label as the most talked
about show of the season, as
explained by a Blyth Festival staff
member.
Garrison’s Garage originally
premiered in 1985 and, with the
remount this year, Blyth Festival
Publicity and Marketing Co-
Ordinator Lisa Hood explained that,
when people called in to get their
tickets, many of them had a story to
share about their friends seeing the
show way-back-when and, having
just seen it for the first time, I can
understand why.
While the story may be as old as I
am, the plot, the characters and the
comedy are timeless.
As long as there are countries, as
long as there are governments, there
will be taxmen like Blair, as brought
to life brilliantly by Rylan Wilkie,
who feel that the tax act is Biblical in
its scope and religious in its
application. It’s because of timeless
characters this show, written by
Festival mainstay Ted Johns and
directed by Festival Interim Artistic
Director Peter Smith, will find a
receptive audience whenever and
wherever it’s staged.
Other Festival familiar faces
included husband-and-wife duo
Tony Munch as mechanic Frank and
Catherine Fitch as restaurenteur-
gone-broke Lorna. Acclaimed
Canadian actor David Fox as
Garrison, and Jamie Robinson as
Bert round out the comedic cast
perfectly.
The play is so timeless that, aside
from the inclusion of a cell phone
and an iPad, I can imagine it being
played 10 years ago and 10 years
from now and still being more-or-
less the same while still being well-
received.
As far as the story is concerned,
Revenue Canada officer Blair finds
himself in several sticky situations
as Munch’s Frank, while slowly and
in his own mysterious way, repairs
the taxman’s car.
He’s faced with a difficult choice
between his job and following his
heart when he discovers what he
believes is likely an entire town full
of tax evaders.
Wilkie brings the idea of the torn
psyche to the forefront of Blair’s
character well, leaving the audience
with a definite sense that this is
likely the most difficult decision he
has ever had to make, even more
than the one to leave a heavily-
religious life for one following the
tax bible.
Meanwhile, only Fitch’s Lorna
knows that he is a taxman and he
finds himself welcomed to Frank’s
garage, in the middle of Garrison’s
scrapyard, like a member of the
family, eventually finding himself
helping Frank with his pending tax
problems.
The play itself is unique in that
everything seems to take place in a
very short period of time.
Each ‘scene’ happens seconds
PIG ROAST
for
Jeff Linton
and
Keresa Isaacs
Sat.August 24
th 3PM
• Dinner 6 p.m. • BYOB
• KidsWelcome
At the home of
Paul and Amanda Linton
44602Winthrop Road, Dublin
Tickets
519-345-0769
Open House
for
Leo & Rita Deitner
on the occasion of their
55th Wedding Anniversary
also Mom’s 80th Birthday
on Sunday, August 18
at St. Ambrose Church,
Brussels
1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
No gifts please (Donation to
Food Bank accepted if you must!)
Nifty! Nifty!
Look who’s 50
Happy Birthday
Dad
Love the girls
BENEFIT DANCE
for
CRAIG “SHOLTZY”
SOMERVILLE
Sat. Sept. 7, 2013
Seaforth Agriplex 5:30 pm-1am
• BBQ 5:30- 8 pm
Donation at the door after
8 pm for dance.
Tickets $20
available at
Archies
UPI Seaforth
or Call Jared
519-854-9755
Those who wish
to donate items
please contact
Brent Pryce
519-525-6295
SILENT
AUCTION
Much love xoxo
from family and friends
9595ththHappy
Birthday
ISABELLE HUNT
August 15
th
SAVE THIS
DATE!!
MAX
DEMARAY
IS 80!
Come & Celebrate!!!
Saturday, August 17
1 pm to 4 pm
Brussels Legion
Best Wishes Only
Lonnie and Marilyn’s
30th Anniversary
Pig Roast
Come out and celebrate
August 18, 2013
RSVP to Nicolle at
519-357-2505 or
nicolleandryan@hotmail.ca
for directions and details
Happy 35th
Anniversary
John & Merilyn
McDonald
August 19, 1978
Love ~ your family
Entertainment Londesborough ON.............................................www.seedforwildbirds.comnaturesnest@tcc.on.ca
Getting filled in
Rylan Wilkie, front left, plays Blair, getting some important information from Garrison, played
by David Fox, centre right, later on in the Blyth Festival’s remount of Garrison’s Garage nearly
30 years after it first hit the stage. Flanking the duo are the rest of the cast including, from left,
Tony Munch as Frank, Catherine Fitch’s Lorna and Jamie Robinson as Bert. The show runs
until Aug. 31. (Terry Manzo photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Continued on page 20
430 Queen Street, Blyth, Ontario226-523-9720Specialty Coffees &Espresso BarLunches, fresh pies, buttermilkbiscuits, cakes, etc.