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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-08-29, Page 22I PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1990. ‘Perils’ - political comedy for political times It’s election time in Ontario and the Blyth Festival’s final theatre presentation of the season has some special words of advice to aspiring politicians. “The Perils of Persephone’’ by Dan Needles with its environmental themes and com­ ic adventures opens at Blyth Mem­ orial Hall on August 29 with 16 performances. I On September 18 the show hits the road for a seven week tour of Ontario communities. Since its premier at Blyth in June, 1989, over 13,400 people and millions of Morningside radio listeners have enjoyed the story of Eldon Currie - the man-who-would-be-Reeve, who hankers for the fame and glory of political life ... until the night a truck carrying atomic waste comes hurtling into his ditch. Ron Gabriel, a popular perform­ er at Blyth, directs a talented company of comic performers: Shawna Lori Burnett, Sharon Dyer, Dennis Fitzgerald, Jerry Franken, Fran Gebhard, Alan Nashman and Bruce Parkhouse. Jerry Franken who appeared in Perils last year as Eldon Currie returns in the role of Orval, whose one-liners keep the audience roaring with laughter. Set design is by Pat Flood with costume design by Mary Fulford and lighting design by James Milburn. “The idea for The Perils of Persephone came to me in 1981’’ says author Dan Needles, “when I was having dinner with a friend who worked in the field of emer­ gency planning. I had just complet­ ed a five year term at Queen’s Park including a stint as assistant to the Minister of the Environment and I was interested in my friend’s assessment of the Mississauga Derailment, a rail accident in a Toronto suburb that led to the evacuation of thousands of resi­ dents. His view of the Mississauga incident was that everything went smoothly because the accident happened at exactly the right place and at the right time: right next to an international airport where emergency planning was very high­ ly developed, and at night when everybody was home.” J > <• ' ?• Your Libera! candidate in Huron. Let Jim Fitzgerald's experience work for you. •learned to serve all Huron county people as Jack Riddell's assistant for four years •ran a successful small business in Clinton for eight years •managing editor, Clinton News Record for 10 years •covered municipal politics for 10 years •believes in strong, local economy based on small industries and businesses •plant manager for small manufacturing firm •graduate of the University of Western Ontario, B.A. "A prime commitment of mine is to agriculture and to the continued success of the family farm. The Premier's commitment to agriculture prides the means to deliver on this commitment. His $19 million Rural Ventures Program^ announced recently here In Huron (Exeter area), Is solid proof of this commitment." “It was tempting” says Needles “to speculate what might have happened if the wrong thing happ­ ened at the wrong time in a place where the margin for human error was more generous. Before the evening was over, we had worked out the first act of a play in which a mysterious truck runs off the road onto a dairy farm. I actually wrote a few scenes, but they went into a drawer for six years until Rod and Douglas Beattie persuaded me to dust them off and try again.” Together they prepared a draft for the Blyth stage in 1989, populating the play with characters from the same Persephone Town­ ship that made Walt Wingfield famous, and a few from the hallways of Queen’s Park. Needles adeptly weaves humour with con­ temporary issues as illustrated in his others plays starring Walt Wingfield. “The Wingfield trilogy starring Rod Beattie “Letter from Wingfield Farm”, “Wingfield’s Progress” and ‘‘Wingfield’s Folly” have toured across Canada. Needles’ book, “Letters From Wingfield Farm”, soon issued in paperback was nominated for the Leacock Award for Humour. Jim knows agriculture •general manager, writer, photographer for The Rural Voice magazine serving 28,000 food producers in Huron, Perth, Grey, Bruce, Duffering, and Rainy River District •award-winning agricultural journalist •chief of staff to the Minister of Agriculture and Food for four years •believes in strong, viable agriculture industry based on the family farm, and strengthened marketing board system •believes Canadian food production must be recognized as important to national security Jim watches as Pat Down weighs a market hog.■ The Perils of Persephone is performed in Blyth Memorial Hall from August 29 to September 15. Also on stage until September 8th, is the Colleen Curran comedy - Local Talent. A good selection of tickets is available for most performances. Call the Blyth Festi­ val Box office for more information: (519) 523-9300. 'lit' ■ FOR INFORMATION CALL THE CAMPAIGN OFFICE IN YOUR AREA 74 Victoria Street CLINTON...................................482-5012 430 Main Street EXETER....................................235-3179 59A Hamilton Street GODERICH...............................524-1163 5 Diagonal Road WINGHAM.................................357-4040 24 Main Street SEAFORTH...............................527-2857 Jim believes in community involvement •member, board of directors, Blyth Centre for the Arts •trustee, Clinton Public Hospital Board of Governors •member, Wesley-Willis United Church, Clinton, also choir member •community co-ordinator, Maplehill Senior Citizens' village, Clinton •former leader in Scouting movement in Clinton r Education is the topic with principal Jim Steffler and students at Sacred Heart Separate School In Wingham. AUTHORIZED BY THE HURON PROVINCIAL LIBERAL ASSOCIATION SEPTEMBER 6 ELECT JIM FITZGERALD Your Liberal Candidate in Huron /