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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2011-06-16, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011. PAGE 23. The world premiere of Hometown by the Hometown Collective will officially open the 37th Blyth Festival season on June 24. Hometown tackles the question, “what does the word hometown mean to you?” Is it the prairie village where you learned to ride a bicycle or is it a condo by the ocean? Is it the town where you played hockey for 10 years or is it the city where you watched your favourite team for 30 years? The play takes the shape of six short stories written by playwrights from across Canada— Jean Marc Dalpé (Montréal, Quebec), Mieko Ouchi (Edmonton, Alberta), Mansel Robinson (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), Martha Ross (Burnaby, British Columbia), Peter Smith (Barrie, Ontario) and Des Walsh (New Bonaventure, Newfoundland), with music by David Archibald (Newburgh, Ontario) and translation by Maureen Labonté of Montréal. Through memory, stories and song, this dynamic group of artists shines a light on Canada’s hometowns from coast to coast. “Where else can you walk into a theatre and literally watch your entire country unfold in front of you? This is an event as much as it is a play. I would love to see the idea continue to grow in other parts of Canada, with different writers and musicians creating their own versions of Hometown,” says Artistic Director Eric Coates. Hometown is the 112th play to premiere at the Blyth Festival since 1975. Familiar faces appearing in Hometown include Marion Day (Bordertown Café, Innocence Lost) and David Archibald (Homegrown, The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom). The cast also includes Kira Guloien and Phil Poirier, making their Blyth Festival debuts and Ryan Bondy, who first appeared at the festival in the 2009 production of Innocence Lost. Hometown is directed by former Blyth Festival artistic director Peter Smith. Preview performances of Hometown run June 21 -23, prior to the official opening on June 24. Hometown plays at the Blyth Festival in repertory until Aug. 7. The Blyth Festival’s 2011 season runs June 21 to Aug. 27 and also features Vimy by Vern Thiessen, Rope’s End by Douglas Bowie and Early August by Kate Lynch. For more information visit www.blythfestival.com or call 1- 877-862-5984. The Hometown to Hometown fundraiser event was a huge success according to co-organizer Gary Clark, having raised $1,000. The event brought many different community members together to raise funds and awareness for the relief effort for Japan. The evening, which raised funds for the International Red Cross to aid the effort to help Japan after it was devastated by an earthquake in May, featured plays from local high schools, plays from Blyth Public School, music from Cappy Onn’s violin school and a local community choir and was topped off by David Archibald singing a song from the Blyth Festival’s upcoming 2011 season opener Hometown, all on the Blyth Memorial Hall stage. “People had a good time,” Clark said. “It’s huge what can be accomplished when schools, churches and business work together, it broadens the appeal of an event like this and ultimately does a wonderful thing.” Clark, a representative of all the local Christian churches, said that the event focused on building the spirit and community-base locally to raise funds for people in Japan who are still recovering from earthquakes and the resulting tsunamis that rocked the island. “We’re building our hometown by helping another hometown thousands of miles away,” he said. They need our help and this is really a win-win situation.” Both F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham and St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School in Clinton had dramatic representation at the event and Clark said that they, along with the students from Blyth Public School, who worked under his co-organizer and Blyth Festival Outreach and Education Co- ordinator Janine Plummer, did a great job. “The kids had a great time and did an amazing job,” he said. “The F.E. Madill play was fantastic, those kids did a marvelous job. “A lot of the credit for the event needs to go to Janine [Plummer],” Clark said. “She did an amazing job and really helped the Blyth Public School students show what they were capable of.” Blyth Festival General Manager Deb Sholdice said the show was exactly what the Memorial Hall stage was meant for. “This is exactly what the Memorial Hall is all about,” she said. “It brought the community together to entertain each other and show community spirit.” The community choir is a newer creation, according to Clark, which is run independently of any particular denomination. Members from several different churches, as well as members of the public at large are involved. The group hopes to find enough members to be a part of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association’s 50th annual reunion in September. The Majestic Women’s Institute met on June 8 at the home of Marie McCutcheon for a potluck picnic lunch where members shared their favourite dishes. After lunch the meeting was called to order to deal with business. A motion was made to pay the bills, and a hand book was handed out. It was decided that Cathrine Campbell and Leona Armstrong will look after the Brussels Fall Fair display. Bonnie Lindsay will arrange selling quilt tickets at Brussels Foodland. Marie McCutcheon and Leona Armstrong shared some readings and some word games and a lot of laughter. The WI will take a break for summer and meet again in September. ‘Hometown’ to open 37th Blyth Festival season Local actors hold Blyth fundraiser for Japan WI meets Father’s Day Old Tyme Country Breakfast Sunday, June 19 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Londesborough Hall • Eggs • Bacon • Sausage • Pancakes and Homefries Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7.00 Children Under 12 . . . . . . . . . $3.00 Sponsored by Londesboro Lions Club 50th Anniversary Celebration Lloyd & Mabel Glanville Saturday, June 25 Brussels Legion Dance from 8:00 -11:30 pm RSVP Lisa 519-887-6071 Marriage Announcement Ted and Marlene Little and Randy and Lorna Fraser wish to announce the marriage of their children Heather and Joe on June 18, 2011 Open reception 9 pm - 1 am at Blyth Community Centre Family & friends are invited to a Buck & Doe for Brad Stephenson & Becky Bylsma Friday, June 24 9 pm - 1 am Listowel Ag Hall Age of Majority Tickets $5/$7 at the door For tickets call Tyler 519-291-7052 Scott 519-887-6221 NIXON We invite you to help us celebrate our 25th Anniversary Friday, June 24, 2011 8:00 pm - 12:30 am Belgrave Community Centre We wish to thank you for your love and support. Please let your presence be our gift. John & Sheila Age of Majority - Tickets $5.00 For Tickets Call Teresa at 519-357-9457 BUS AVAILABLE... &%$#"! % "#%# %"%% &% %#"%"% % &% #% %#"! %#%"%"%# "%%"%"%"%"% %### STAG & DOE STAG & DOE "" %#%% 9:00 P.M. - 1:00 A.M. BELGRAVE A RENA Shane Davenpor t Karrin Marks&Shane Davenpor t Karrin Marks& Family & Friends are invited to a Stag & Doe forBrent Black &Vicky Black Saturday, June 25 Goderich Memorial Arena (upstairs) 9:00 pm - 1:00 am Age of majority * Cash Bar * DJ * Light Lunch Provided $5 Advance $8 Door For tickets call Heather at 519-531-0821 Entertainment Leisure& By Denny Scott The Citizen