HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-07-03, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2008. PAGE 19.Entertainment Leisure&
A pair of very, hard-working
actors were on stage for the Blyth
premiere of Ken Cameron’s Harvest
last week.
As Charlotte and Allan, plus a
myriad of other colourful characters,
Marion Day and Larry Yachimec
literally tell the story of what
happened when this couple decided
to retire and sell their farm.
Speaking directly to the audience
the pair narrates and acts out their
saga.
Allan’s mother, who had lived
with them, had recently passed away
at 91 after having a stroke while
picking raspberries. The farm has
been in the family for generations,
though not a direct line, with Allan’s
father having purchased the property
from a distant cousin.
However, while Charlotte does not
want to find herself, like her mother-
in-law, dying in the same place she
has lived forever, Allan finds it hard
to let go. He agrees to sell the land to
his neighbour, but opts to keep the
house as a rental.
It isn’t long, however, before the
behaviour of their nice, young
renter, begins to raise some
questions. And by the time they
finally discover exactly what he’s
been up to, it is a reality that
threatens their lifestyle.
Despite the serious undertone,
Harvest is light entertainment.
Laughs come cheaply and no one
takes themself too seriously. Allan’s
understated calm is a nice contrast to
Charlotte’s wide-eyed optimism.
Beneath the comedy, however,
Cameron has also delivered a
message. It speaks of a way of life
and the changing trends particularly
familiar to this area. Gone are the
days when a father could count on
the next generation to take over the
family farm. Gone too are the days
when people can consider everyone
they meet a neighbour or friend.
The ways of doing business have
become complex and anonymous
with big corporations in charge and
small-town associates unable to alter
the rules, not even to help an old
friend.
Taken from a page in family
history; the story actually happened
to the playwright’s parents;
Cameron ably nails the jargon of a
long-married couple. They’ve
known each other so long, and know
each other too well.
Despite the puzzled expressions,
and occasional retorts, audiences
will recognize the love that exists
between the two, love that has been
built from weathering the good and
bad, and seeing them through. They
may not always understand each
other, but they have learned to
understand that’s okay.
“Listen to what I mean, not what I
say,” says Charlotte to her husband,
appearing almost surprised that she
had to tell him that.
With just two actors on stage
during the entire performance,
director Ian Prinsloo has kept the
interaction active. Day and
Yachimec wander from spot to spot,
moving boxes and set, changing, and
sometimes inter-changing,
characters. It is precisely how a
couple would tell the story.
Prinsloo, former artistic director of
Theatre Calgary, has been involved
with Harvest for some time having
directed it no less than three
previous times. Yet the production in
Blyth feels fresh, not re-worked.
Shawn Kerwin, chair of the theatre
department at York University who
has worked extensively at Blyth
Festival, has created a set that
interacts with the cast. As busy as
they are with dialogue and character
Day and Yachimec are also on props,
altering each scene with the sliding
and shifting of wooden framework.
The rural landscape is beautifully
depicted by a colourful backdrop
and three-dimensional rich wooden
columns.
There’s nothing fancy about
Harvest, but there’s nothing about it
that pretends to be. The humour can
be silly, the constant movement
occasionally irritating. But it’s a
tribute to a way of life Blyth
audiences understand better than
any. It’s breezy, makes you chuckle
and sometimes even gets you
thinking.
Not a bad way to spend some time.
Harvest is at the Blyth Festival
until Aug. 16.
Theatre reviewHarvest mixes it up at Blyth Festival
Harvesting a hit?
Marion Day and Larry Yachimec do it all in the Blyth Festival
production of Ken Cameron’s comedy Harvest. (Tarry Manxo
photo)
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Congratulations on your
Retirement and
Happy 60th Birthday
Cheryl Cronin
Love from your family.
Hope you have a wonderful
retirement.
Happy 70th
Birthday
Ross Patterson
July 3
From your family
Happy 30th
Birthday
Jason!
Finally
Love Dana & Trystan
Entertainers
It was lots of fun for little ones at Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship on Saturday as they enjoyed the performance
of Splash n’ Boots. (Vicky Bremner photo)
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