HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-06-30, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2011. PAGE 19.
‘Blood Brothers’ begins run
‘Hometown’ delivers
Making her mark
The Blyth Festival Art Gallery officially opened its season on Friday night with “Footsteps in
the Garden” an exhibit compiled by husband and wife team Danuta and Vlodek Tydor. Danuta,
pictured here, contributes paintings to the collection, evoking an atmosphere of a peaceful
habitat. (Vicky Bremner photo)
The Huron Country Playhouse
continues its 40th anniversary
season with one of the longest-
running musicals in the history of
London’s West End: Blood Brothers.
Its combination of haunting songs,
unforgettable characters and a
fascinating story make this musical a
must-see production. Theatregoers
will have the opportunity to
experience this captivating musical
for three weeks. The run began on
July 6.
“Blood Brothers is a truly
compelling and exhilarating
production which will resonate with
audiences for years to come,” says
Artistic Director Alex Mustakas.
“The audience will experience so
many emotions throughout the show.
They’ll laugh at the side-splitting
humour, and they’ll be moved by the
heart-tugging ending.”
Set in Liverpool in post-war 1960s
Britain, Blood Brothers follows Mrs.
Johnstone, a young mother who is
deserted by her husband and left to
provide for seven young children.
She takes a job as a housekeeper in
order to make ends meet, but it is not
long before she discovers that she is
pregnant yet again – this time with
twins! In a moment of weakness and
desperation, Mrs. Johnstone enters
into a secret pact to keep one twin
and give the other to her employer
Mrs. Lyons, who is longing for a
child of her own.
Audiences will watch Mickey and
Eddie grow up in different worlds
only to be brought together by a
twist of fate that sparks a great
friendship between them. However,
the hidden truth always looms over
their relationship as this powerful
musical moves towards its
inescapable climax.
A provocative score includes “A
Bright New Day”, “Marilyn
Monroe” and the emotionally
charged song “Tell Me It’s Not
True”.
Under the inventive direction of
Mustakas, this extravagant musical
is more exciting than ever on the vast
Huron Country Playhouse stage.
Mustakas is joined by Music
Director Charles T. Cozens, Set
Designer Stephen Degenstein,
Lighting Designer Kevin Fraser, and
Costume Designer Angela
VanderVeen.
An array of theatrical talent has
been assembled for this production,
including Drayton Entertainment
favourites Paul McQuillan and Tory
Doctor as the ill-fated twins
Mickey and Eddie. Audiences will
recognize McQuillan from his
memorable performance as Sky
Masterson in Guys and Dolls, a
role he will reprise at the Playhouse
Mainstage this August. Theatregoers
will also remember Doctor from
his charismatic performances
in Legends and Me and My
Girl.
Acclaimed Canadian actress
Charlotte Moore makes her Drayton
Entertainment debut in the coveted
tour-de-force role of Mrs. Johnstone.
Ms. Moore’s illustrious 30-year
career includes performances as
Mama Rose in Gypsy, Mrs. Potts in
Beauty And The Beast, Fantine in
Les Misérables, Mrs. Lynde in Anne
Of Green Gables, several seasons
with the Shaw and Charlottetown
Festivals, a Dora Award for her role
as Janet in The Rocky Horror Show
as well as numerous recordings.
The production also features
Bobby Prochaska in the ominous
role of the narrator, Amanda Leigh
as Mrs. Lyons and Laura McCarthy
as Linda, a young woman who finds
herself at the centre of a tug of war
between the brothers. Patrick Cook,
Gabi Epstein, Darcy Evans, Marisa
Falcone, Michael Killinger,
Nicholas Marinucci and Liam Tobin
round out an impressive cast.
Blood Brothers runs for three
weeks only, July 6-23. Tickets can
be purchased through the box office
at 519-238-6000 or toll free at 1-
855-drayton 519-372-9866.
For more about the 2011 Season
visit www.huroncountryplayhouse.com
Continued from page 18
children’s chorus first appears
adding a vibrant ray of youth and
exuberance to the stage.
Watched individually, these
productions hold their own, but it’s
with the music of David Archibald
that Hometown becomes the most
ambitious production I’ve seen in
my years of going to the Festival.
Each wing of the stage is adorned
with several different guitars, a
banjo, a mandolin and a piano. And
with these instruments, Archibald
draws a straight line through six
different stories that may not have
otherwise been there.
Archibald performs original songs
and songs we all know and provides
background music as he softly
plucks an acoustic guitar in the
background. He is the one constant
as Hometown shifts from story to
story, literally running from coast to
coast.
Festival Artistic Director Eric
Coates said with this season the
Blyth Festival would be waving the
flag, Hometown is a portrait of
Canada for better or worse.
It’s a story about Canada by
Canadians, but it almost waves the
flag without knowing it. It’s our
story not from a writer puffing his
chest and waxing poetic, this story
of Canada comes straight from us.
Hometown is about the struggles
we face, the tough times we endure
and the triumphs we celebrate
together.
Graduation
Blake Griffiths
graduated from The University
of Western Ontario on
June 15, 2011. He received his
Bachelor of Engineering Science,
Mechanical Engineering Degree.
Blake has accepted a position as
project manager at Warrior Mines
of Jasper, Alabama.
Congratulations on your hard work
and dedication in achieving your
goal. We are very proud of you and
wish you great success as you
pursue your chosen career.
Love Mom, Dad and Kyle.
Graduation
BRINDLEY
Stephanie Brindley graduated from
Lambton College, Sarnia on
June 11, 2011 as a Child and Youth
Worker. She graduated on the
Dean’s Honour List ~ top of her
class. We are very proud of you and
wish you all the best in the future.
Love always, Ben, Ace
and the entire
Caldwell, Weaver & Brindley
families.
Happy 80th
Birthday
Mary
The family of
Mary McIntosh
invites you to attend a
Party
on July 2nd
1:30 - 4:30 pm
at Wingham Legion
Victoria St., West
Best wishes only.
Bromley
The family of
Willis & Marie Bromley
invites you to celebrate their
60th Wedding
Anniversary
Sunday, July 3rd
2~4 pm
Londesborough Hall
Good Wishes Only Please
Graduation
Lindsay Malhiot, daughter of
Lori and Mike of Belgrave,
graduated with Distinction from
the University of Windsor with
an Honours Bachelor of Science
and a Bachelor of Education.
Lindsay is currently employed
with the engineering department
at the Municipality of
Leamington, and is planning to
pursue a career in teaching.
Congratulations Lindsay!
We’re very proud of you.
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