HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-05-05, Page 31THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011. PAGE 31.Workshop held for Festival opener last week
Singing, banging and voices of all
kinds could be heard pouring out of
the rehearsal space at the Blyth
Festival last week thanks to a
workshop for Hometown, a unique
play set to be debuted at the Festival
this season.
Hometown is a play that originated
with Peter Smith, a familiar face at
the Blyth Festival, but has actually
been written by six different
playwrights.
Starting on June 21, and running
through August 7, Smith says that
the play got its first step forward
from him seeing Blyth post office
employee Faye Bolger locking up
one evening.
“I’ve known Faye for a long time,”
Smith said. “She’s been sending my
parcels out west [where Smith has
moved since his time in Blyth] for a
long time, and it just made me think
of home.”
The play focuses on six different
stories by Smith, Jean Marc Dalpé,
Mieko Ouchi, Mansel Robinson,
Martha Ross and Des Walsh and
will feature music by David
Archibald.
“It’s about coming home, and
what that means for different
people,” Smith explained.
The noise that was coming from
the rehearsal space was a workshop
for Smith, Archibald, assistant
director Adam Pellerri and actors
Kira Guloien, Philip Poirier, Marion
Day and Tony Munch.
The group had assembled to
discuss the costumes, scenery and
music in the play.
“A workshop like this is really
necessary,” he said. “It gives
[everyone involved in the play] a
chance to sit down and get used to
working with each other.”
Smith said that, along with
working together, it also allows for
revisions to be made to the script
with everyone’s input, and allows
plans to be made for future changes.
The final product will make for a
“terrific night out” according to
Smith.
“Following the six different stories
is going to be great,” he said. “The
artists really wrote from the heart
and the show is really an honourable
pursuit.”
The play has been a vision shared
by the writers as well as Festival
Artistic Director Eric Coates.
“Working with Eric has been
great, he’s been very supportive of
the play since its inception,” he said.
“Both Eric and Deb [Sholdice,
General Manger of the Festival] do a
great job and maintain a great place
to work.”
Smith’s visit to Blyth was filled
with memories as he watched
“newbies” to the area get their first
taste of the Festival.
“They’re all impressed with the
community and the Festival,” he
said, stating that his memories of
things like how warm the house is
from the stage have remained
true.
Other memories from Smith’s
time in Blyth also came to the
surface as he was out and about in
the town.
“It really felt like I never left this
place and made me realize what I
miss about it,” he said, adding a
story about local businessman Rick
Elliott not saying welcome back, but
welcome home.
“It’s great to reconnect with
people, that’s a highlight of the visit
for sure,” he said.
For more information about the
show visit the Blyth Festival’s
website at www.blythfestival.com
Entertainment Leisure&
Tickets at Blyth Festival Office, Blyth Legion, Ernie King Music
(Goderich & Wingham) Credit Card Orders: 1-800-465-7829
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011 - 7PM
BLYTH MEMORIAL HALL
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Friends and family are invited to a
Stag & Doe
for
Tyler Campbell &
Jaide Tervit
May 7
from 8 pm - 1 am
Brussels Community Centre
Age of majority, DJ, Prizes,
Late Lunch
$5 in advance $8 at the door
Please contact Dana at
519-531-1152 or Corey at 519-830-7163
Family & Friends are invited to a
BUCK AND DOE
for
MARK OLSON
and
NICOLE WHITE
Saturday, May 14th
from 9 pm - 1 am
at the
B.M. & G. Community Centre, Brussels• Age of majority • Lunch provided • Music by DJ
Tickets are $5 in advance
or $6 at the door
Happy
Birthday
Grandpa Carl
Hockey is over but lacrosse
starts this week.
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Mother’s Day
Breakfast
Belgrave Kinsmen
Sunday, May 8, 2011
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Belgrave Community
Centre
Adults $8.00
Children 6 & under free
Tickets available at the door
Family & friends
are invited to a
BUCK & DOE
for
JACKIE BRAK
&
DAN ELLIOTT
Saturday, May 14
8 pm - 1 am
Blyth Arena
Late lunch provided
Double Dutch DJ
Age of majority
Tickets $5.00 advance
$7.00 at the door
Phone 519-523-9392
for tickets
Do-Re-Mi
The man behind the music of Hometown, a play set to debut at the Blyth Festival this season,
David Archibald, on the piano, was joined by the actors in the play as they did some vocal
warmups during a workshop held at the Festival last week. Hometown will feature original
music put together by Archibald and a script worked on by six different playwrights. Singing
are, from left, Kira Guloien, Philip Poirier, Adam Pellerri, Marion Day and Tony Munch. (Denny
Scott photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen