HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-06-27, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1990.
Entertainment Canada Day marked
at Ag. Museum
Theatre review
‘A Field of Flowers’ compelling
BY BONNIE GROPP
“A Field of Flowers” which
premiered at Blyth Festival last
Wednesday is a compelling story
full of emotional impact and laced
with humour. Written by Laurie
Fyffe, the play is an intricately
woven story of past, present and
future that is easy to follow without
being inane. Billed as a mystery
the play has been spiced with
comedy that director Peter Smith
emphasizes throughout. The effect
is entertaining with a little bit of
everything and not too much of
anything.
The story is based on Alice
Staples, a young girl in the 30’s,
who, when it is discovered she is
with child, is whisked away by her
parents to a training school in rural
Ontario. The plot unfolds as she
and her friend from Victoria School
kidnap the child she believes was
taken from her at birth.
Shawna Lori Burnett does a good
job as the innocent Alice, a girl
stunned and disbelieving at the
turn her life has taken; whose
naivete fades as life’s realities
strike her.
Her friend Gillian, a girl who has
met life’s many blows head on, and
survived, is the perfect foil for the
quiet Alice. Played by Cheryl
Swarts, Gillian sees the world in
black and white and takes very
little of it seriously. When common
sense and quick wit won’t help, she
turns her back and walks away.
Alice’s father Arthur Staples is
played by Jerry Franken, who has
returned for his fourth season in
Blyth. Staples is a man who can not
deal with the pain directly so
removes it from his sight. Misguid
ed, he feels that he did the best
thing for his daughter, because it
was the only thing he could do.
Katia de Pena as Beatrice Bel
laire is cooi and practical, the voice
of reason amidst the misguided.
Only concern for Gillian and Alice
breaks through her reserve.
Lynn Woodman is Lucy Thor-
burn, the headmistress of Victoria
School, and Paul Haddad, plays Dr.
Franklin King, the man responsible
for the baby market who along with
his wife adopts Alice’s baby. Emily
King is played by lovely newcomer
Marion Adler, while Martin Julien
is Miller Crane, Gillian’s romantic
interest.
The cast of this production is
strong, the set design simple and
effective. Mr. Smith’s direction
keeps the production moving quick
ly despite several changes. The
interesting part of ‘ Field of
Flowers is that while the story
centres on Alice and her baby they
are not the central figures. It is
more the person of Gillian that has
centre stage, as she narrates the
story, counsels her friend and
unfolds the past.
Workshopped in Blyth this past
December, A Field of Flowers has
gone through many evolutions
bringing it to the production now
on the Blyth stage. It could very
well be the surprise hit of the
season.
Take a trip through time at the
Ontario Agricultural Museum to
celebrate Canada Day on Sunday,
July 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is FREE for this special
event.
There will be activities and
entertainment for time-travellers of
all ages. Children will delight in a
puppet presentation by the “Cran-
kee Consort”, a puppet workshop,
wagon rides, as well as the
museum’s farm animals. Bring
your own kite to fly over the
expansive grass areas, or kindle
the spirit of the past by participat
ing in organized 19th Century
games.
Enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere
of a country church service, at 11
a.m. in the restored church. Visi
tors can pack a picnic lunch, or eat
in the “country style” restaurant -
but should save room to indulge in
fresh strawbery shortcake, during
the afternoon’s strawberry social.
WANTADS
WORK
ALL THE TIME! (
ARE YOU UP FOR IT?!?
AT THE
BRUSSELS HOTEL
FUNFEST CHALLENGE
PART II
We want you and 5 other teammates [minimum 2 ladies] to join us on
Saturday, July 7 at 2:30 p.m. to test your skill at some wild and crazy
gamesto determine the Funfest Challenge Champions of 1990.
Register your team at the hotel or call 887-9035 for details.
FUN & GAMES
& PRIZES!!!
Forbidden peek
ShawnaLori Burnett is Alice Staples, a young woman in search
of her baby in the Blyth Festival play ‘ ‘Field of Flowers” written
by Laurie Fyffe. Here Marion Adler, as Emily King is sensitive
to the feelings of the young Alice and lets her look at the child
she believes to be hers.
ENTER THE
BRUSSELS«MORRIS«GREY
FUNFEST
PARADE
SAT.
JULY 7, 1990
COMMENCING
AT NOON
DUCK RACE
1. Best Fun Fest Float $75-50-25
2. Best Cartoon Character 20-15-10
3. Best Organization 20-15-10
4. Best Commercial 20-15-10
5. BestClown 20-15-10
6. BestComical 20-15-10
7. Best Children’s Float 20-15-10
8. Best Dressed Couple 20-15-10
9. Best Horse Drawn Float 20-15-10
All decorated bicycles will receive a loony
All participants please register at the old fairgrounds or call
Karen Hastings
887-6983
CLIP & BRING THIS ENTRY TO THE
OLD FAIRGROUNDS
PARADE ENTRY
NAME ........................... ................................
CATEGORY ....................................................
ENTER
THE B. M. & G.
FUNFEST
WATER
SPORTS
REGISTRATION FOR ALL
EVENTS AT 12:30 P.M.
AT THE DAM
CANOE RACES 1:00 P.M.
Rules:
1] Must be regular canoe
2] Canoe cannot be motorized
3] Only two people per canoe
4] Canoe can only be powered by canoe paddles
Entry fee of $5.00 per canoe per event
1] Men’s Division 2] Women’s Division
3] Mixed Division
BATHTUB RACES 2:00 P.M.
Rules:
1] Craft must have one regular household bathtub
2] No more than two persons per tub
3] Bathtub must touch water
4] Bathtub cannot be motorized
5] Bathtub can only be powered by canoe paddles
[no rowboat oars or anything else]
6] Bathtub cannot have streamlined front or rear panels
1] Men’s Division 2] Women’s Division
3] Mixed Division
ENTRY FEE $5 PER TUB PER EVENT
LOG ROLLING 2:00 P.M.
SPONSORED BY
BRUSSELS
OPTIMIST CLUB