HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-06-18, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009. PAGE 19.Entertainment Leisure&Theatre reviewThis ‘Fair’ a lively cavalcade of merriment
Are you going to Bartholomew
Fair? If so, be prepared to be amused
and bemused.
Ben Jonson’s satire of the
underbelly of London, England, on
stage at Stratford’s Tom Patterson
Theate until Oct. 2 brings class and
convictions together at the annual
fair. The characters may have
different motives and different
views, but they leave with
similarities exposed.
And along the way it’s a fun house
of bawdy gestures and salty humour.
We learn first of the fair through
Puritan proctor John Littlewit, who
has penned a puppet show for the
event.
Arriving at his home is
Bartholomew Cokes. A sweet fool
with child-like enthusiasm Cokes
gushes about the fair that carries his
name, and decides he will attend.
Accompanying him are his servant
Humphrey Wasp, his betrothed
Grace (ward to his brother-in-law
Justice Adam Overdo) and his sister
Mistress Overdo.
Two sophisticates visiting the
Littlewits, Ned Winwife and Tom
Quarlous, go along for the laughs.
John Littlewit and his wife, Win,
decide to go too and convince his
mother-in-law Dame Purecraft that
it is for the health of his pregnant
wife that they must as she craves pig.
Purecraft seeks the advice of the
family’s spiritual leader Zeal-of-the-
Land Busy, who agrees to attend and
“eat exceedingly and prophesy.”
Bartholomew Fair is a world of
excess and deprivation. Everything
is there and it is all for sale to those
who can afford it, sold by those who
cannot. There is food to eat, sights to
behold and sex for the asking. There
is thievery, debauchery and Ursla the
pig woman.
Watching from the sidelines is
Overdo, in disguises, keeping track
of the ‘enormities’ these characters
commit.
And what characters they are,
silly, lush and larger than life. The
cast, which features most notably
Lucy Peacock as Ursla, Tom
McCamus as Overdo, Jonathan
Goad as Quarlous, Juan Chioran as
Busy and Randy Hughson as the
horse trader Jordan Knockem, fill
the stage and the aisles. They
literally wrap the fair around the
audience as they run through exits,
fill empty seats and park themselves
on steps.
Steven Page, late of The
Barenaked Ladies, composed a
folksy score, catchy enough to see
heads bobbing and toes tapping, yet
well-suited to the time and
place.
From ribald jokes to slapstick
silliness this production keeps you
on your toes and laughing.
Stratford’s Bartholomew Fair is a
lively cavalcade of merriment and
mirth.
Father's Day
Old Tyme
Country Breakfast
Sunday, June 21
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
at Londesborough Hall
• Eggs • Bacon • Sausage
• Pancakes and Homefries
Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.00
Children Under 12 . . . . . . . . . $3.00
Sponsored by Londesborough Lions Club
50th
Anniversary
Family and friends
are invited to celebrate
with
Ken and Bessie
Johnston
on June 28th, 2009
from 2 ~ 4 pm
at Ken & Bessie’s home
86360 Ramsay Line,
Bluevale
In lieu of gifts, donations to the
North Huron Food Share
would be appreciated.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
11 am - 3 pm
Courthouse Square, Goderich
Come dressed as your favourite
rock star or scientist
• Parade at 10:30 am • Activities for all ages
Performances by MAD Science
and much more!
All activities free of charge - no dogs please
For more info email Lori Patterson
goderichchildrensfestival@yahoo.com or
call Tourism Goderich at 519-524-6600
BBuucckk aanndd DDooee
for
MMeelliissssaa MMccLLeellllaann
aanndd PPaauull TTuurrnneerr
Saturday, June 27
8 pm - 1 am
Brussels Community Centre
Tickets are $8 in advance,
$10 at the door
Tickets can be purchased at
Radar Auto Parts or
Country Quilting or call
519-887-9456 or 519-585-7727
Happy 35th
Anniversary
Mom & Dad
(Les & Evelyn Caldwell)
June 22
Love your family
Come out
and help
Pat Hunking
celebrate her
80th birthday
June 20th
2~4 pm
at the
Belgrave Community
Centre
Rough crowd
Lucy Peacock, Tom McCamus and Randy Hughson are among the performers bringing the
fun to the Tom Patterson Theatre in Stratford with the production of Ben Jonson’s
Bartholomew Fair. (David Hou photo)
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen