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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1990-05-09, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1990. PAGE 23. Entertainment Singers, dancers wanted Music review by Country Playhouse Music entertaining without antics BY BONNIE GROPP Classical pianist Elyakim Taus sig knows that the majority of mankind does not want to sit through almost two hours of unin terrupted classical music, so his selections of Chopin, Beethoven, Liszt and others are peppered with slapstick and one-liners to add a lighter dimension to the usually serious art. Yet, as I watched the Czecho slovakian-born Taussig perform his comedy piano recital “Taussig and Enemies’’ at Blyth Memorial Hall on Saturday evening I contrarily discovered that I could have quite contentedly listened to nothing but his piano interpretations. I even became somewhat annoyed when during the second half of his program he used Beethoven’s familiar Moonlight Sonata in a skit and we were not privileged to hear it as it was meant to be played. The near-capacity audience did however, for the most part, seem to enjoy his quirky brand of humour. For myself, 1 found it predictable and a little corny, but I often chuckled with the rest. You see, I believe that generally people want to be entertained and his simple approach made it easy. Taussig doesn’t ask his audience to think or deduce. His jokes are expected and his execution straight forward. You can look on his brand of comedy as something a child could do or you can sit back and have a good time watching this man act silly and make ludicrous comments. There were a couple of moments I particularly enjoyed. After sug gesting that it seems strange for musicians to leave their best for the encores (“If you haven’t done your best before, there won’t be any encores,’’ he said). Taussig told the crowd that he leaves nothing to chance - he was going to do his encores now. His second encore, he told us, never failed to bring a standing ovation so we were warned to be prepared. But, ever patriotic, only one man came to his feet as Taussig played “O Canada’’. Chopin’s Minute Waltz done in 45 seconds was fun as was Taus sig’s blending of Liszt’s Liebestraum and the Beer Barre! Polka. To travel back and forth between the esoteric and the banal takes a degree of talent in itself. To do both well is to be Victor Borge and there’s only one of him. The bottom line on Taussig is that he is a far superior musician to comedian in my opinion. One woman I overheard leaving the theatre said “the piano seems to wrap itself around him,’’ which 1 considered a suitable metaphor. Taussig at the piano is a perfect melding of artist and subject. His work as a musician is truly beauti ful and it alone would have provided me with a satisfying evening of entertainment. Huron Country Playhouse will be holding auditions in Grand Bend on Wednesday, May 23 and Thursday, May 24 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., for anyone aged six to 60, who would like the opportunity of being in one of the great musical productions scheduled for the 1990 summer season, “Gypsy” and “Annie Get Your Gun”. Singing and dancing are requir ed of all prospective actors, with “tap” dancing a must for all children selected for Gypsy. Re hearsals and production dates will require a five-week commitment by all those participating in the shows. If you are interested, call the Playhouse at 238-8387 for informa tion and appointments. Ticket demand high at Grand Bend Theatre County to study possible Huron Country Playhouse has announced the highest ever pre season number of subscriptions sold for this upcoming ’90 playbill. Last year’s subscription sales totalled 2632, and already for this year, numbers have reached 2459 - with the main spring season sub scription drive not yet started. Anyone interested in preview/ matinee tickets had better reserve now before these seats are no longer avaialble, Karen Kneale, Publicity Director said. There are, of course, many tickets left, but as “show-time” gets closer these are expected to be sold. Phone lines open May 1 (238- 8451) and if you would like informa tion on the 1990 season at Huron Country Playhouse simply call be tween 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. ////"The Huron Provincial Progressive Conservative Association I Meeting will be held on MAY 12, 1990 at 12:00 noon at the Stanley Township Complex Varna, Ontario A luncheon will be provided at 11:30 a.m. (Cost: $5.00). For further information call 522-1641.| meryer of 2 museums by Eric Kirk, a treasurer of the board and Doug McNeil, a board member. Huron County will study a pro posal to merge the Huron County Historic Jail Board with the Huron County Museum, it was decided at county council Wednesday. The idea was put before council Skits highlight 80th anniversary celebration of Blyth WI Memorial Hall’s reputation as a location for renowned Drama has increased in stature since Thursday night, May 3, when three Institute members, Brenda Brooks, Anna Vander Heyden and Vera Badley, at the Institute birthday party staged two, 10-minute productions on a tiny platform in the Hall’s basement. “Now we think the time is right to explore any merit in discussing In the first one, Brenda, on all fours, became a dog whose name was Three Rivers, and whose tail ceaselessly wagged. Brenda’s technical device prevented the^tail from faltering. Vera Badley, play ing the part of an Avon saleslady, got lost going to Clinton. Starving hungry she stumbled onto The Hobo’s Camp. She was apprehen sive of the extent of Three River’s friendliness and the Camp’s method of washing dishes. Vera, still hungry, left hurriedly when told that Three Rivers always did the best job he could in licking them clean. Shoppers at Knechtel’s would not have recognized one of their clerks, Anna Vander Heyden. Ex perienced in a tactic to help one “get into character’’ before ap pearing on stage, she had tripled the size of her gluteus maximus. She was getting ready to go shopping, but several telephone calls that she could not make out caused delays in her attempt to get on her elaborate hat at the right angle. the Huron area, to work on the defective line situation. They were seemingly successful, for Brenda’s invitation came through clear as a bell. Anna’s decisive answer was: “Why would I want to go fishing? I have three suckers on the line already.” Howls of laughter follow ed. The three producers left no stone unturned collecting suitable pro perties for their dramas. merger of the jail with the museum,” Mr. Kirk told council. He said the jail board is in good financial shape (with about $18,000 in the bank) and the building is in good physical shape. But, he said, the museum can offer things the board cannot afford on its own. The museum has a professional staff the jail can’t afford. It also has a superior marketing approach, he said, “and it makes sense if all the major tour attractions should be under one umbrella to increase the good to the whole county.” He said his board is not asking the county to take over the jail, just to look at the possible benefits of a merger. Council agreed to have the matter studied by Museum Direc- tor/Curator Claus Breede and jail curator Harold Erb. The Classic Restaurant BLYTH 523-9623 Brenda Brooks, a fisherwoman, was getting her fishing gear ready, but was delayed by a poor tele phone line as she tried, with no success, to contact Anna to invite her to go fishing with her. Anna had selected from the audience three ladies who held high posi tions in the Women’s Institute in I1 I 1 a i i i a a a a a a IIII1I1II11I ID A NA CARVE Y1 j What does it take to get rich quick? ? 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