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The Citizen, 1990-09-12, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1990. Entertainment Murder plot Rehearsalsare under way for the mystery-dinner production of “Lights out at Camp Kechakeller’ ’ a fundraiser for Blyth Festival to be held Sept. 21 and 22. Taking part in the production are (left to right) author Alice Munro, Wayne Lyons, Joan Perrie, Gary Haist and Anne Elliott. Also in the cast are Duncan McGregor, Don Pullen, Rob Bundy, Floyd Herman and Laurel Paetz. The show is directed by Stephen Oliver. 5 plays workshopped at Festival “Since August, our new play development programme has fo­ cused on five plays at the Blyth Festival’’ says Peter Smith, Asso­ ciate Director who takes over the helm of the Blyth Centre for the Arts this November. “The playwrights whom we’re working with now include: Ted Johns, our playwright-in-resi­ dence, Layne Coleman, Sean Dixon, Christian Bedard, Marion Adler and Scott Wentworth. Our workshops in August and Decem­ ber offer playwrights an opportun­ ity to try out their work with professional actors and directors in order to create the best piece of writing possible. In addition, I have about 120 scripts to look at before the new year with new scripts arriving on my desk each day.” In July, a play by Quebec writer Christian Bedard, titled Schism on the Main Concession was work­ shopped with the Blyth Festival Acting Company. Jerry Franken brought the script to the attention of Katherine Kaszas and Mr. Smith after staging it in French at the University of Western Ontario’s Drama Department. Translator, Chris Vroom and Franken are continuing their work on the English translation of “Le Schimsme du Grand Rang” which was originally workshopped by Theatre du Nouvelle Monde of Montreal. The story, based on local Quebec history, focuses on the breakdown of a community modell­ ed on Girardville in the thirties) when there is a great outcry over the placement of a new church. Despite the feuds created by their families, young Lionel and Ange- line take measures to draw their fragile community together. Sean Dixon’s new play “End of the World Romance” was also part of the new play development programme this summer with the Blyth Festival Company. Last year, his one-man show, “Falling Back Home” was included in the work­ shop program. Sean Dixon, a National Theatre School graduate will be the Playwright-In-Resi- dence for the 1991 season at Blyth thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council. Throughout the summer, Ted Johns, a well known playwright at Blyth, and author of “Garrison’s Garage”, “St. Sam and the Nukes”, “Country Hearts” is working on a new play titled “Two Brothers”. Layne Coleman is work­ ing on a new play, “Barbershop Quartet”. His work, “Blue City Slammers” appeared on the Blyth stage in 1984. Marion Adler, a member of the 1990 Acting Com­ pany and husband Scott Went­ worth who appears this season in featured roles at the Stratford Festival, have written a new musi­ cal, “Gunmetal Blues” which will have a reading on October 1st and 2nd at 8.00 p.m. in the Blyth Garage. Written in the film noir genre, “Gunmetal Blue” is a detective musical-cabaret style. Plays commissioned by the Blyth Festival include a new play by Robert Clinton (author of The Mail Order Bride) titled “My Last Wife” and Raymond Storey’s play about small-town prejudice in the twenties and thirties called “The Glorious Twelfth” (selections from the script in progress now appear­ ing at Edmonton’s Fringe Festi­ val). Our new play development Darlington reactor reaches full power Unit 2 at the Darlington nuclear generating station reached 100 per cent power for the first time on July 4, 1990. The unit produced a peak of 920 megawatts. The timing could not have been better as the same day Ontario Hydro experienced a summer demand record of 20,460 megawatts. Reaching 100 per cent of reactor power is one of the final tests the unit must pass before it can be declared commercial. program is generously sponsored by Woodlawn Arts Foundation New Play Development Fund, Laidlaw Foundation, Mrs. David D. Hay, CKNX Broadcasting Limited and CFPL Broadcasting Limited, Petro­ Canada Plays for Canadians Pro­ gramme, Bruce & Isabel Sully, Bill & Claudia Spink, June Hill and J & J Pharmacy. Recent awards to playwrights whose work has premiered at the Blyth Festival include: •Robert Clinton’s “The Mail Order Bride” has won The Writers Guild of Alberta award for excel­ lence in writing by Alberta authors in the drama category. •Kelly Rebar’s “Bordertown Cafe” has won the Canadian Author’s Association Award for Drama this year. The prize of $5,000 was awarded in Edmonton. HAPPY 30th ANNIVERSARY Jim and Dorothy Carter Friends and Relatives are invited to celebrate with them on September 15. For more information call 523-9405 Postmasters urge public to protest Continued from page 5 customers. We ask readers of this news­ paper to consult your postmaster for the reduction in hours planned for your post office. Please call your Member of Parliament to register your opposition to this move by Canada Post. Tell your reeve or local town councillor you think ‘better service’ means longer, not shorter, hours. Above all, let Canada Post know how you feel about its ‘better service’ for rural Canadians, Write to Don Lander, President, Canada Post Corpora­ tion, Sir Alexander Campbell Building, Ottawa, Ontario. KIA 0C1. Mary Ann Doyle, President, CPAA Ontario Branch. fl ONTARIO £ MARCH IK Sd OF DIMES FITNESS IS FUN- When You Work at Your Own Pace! ETHEL FITNESS CLUB Exercise wjth Program Drusilla Leitch Tuesday - Evenings Exercises 8-9:15 NOTE: CHANGE OF LOCATION BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP BRUSSELS BRING YOUR OWN MAT Registration and Exercise TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 7:30 P.M. 10 weeks - $20.00 Men are Welcome! For information call 887-6192 What’s new this fall CLASSES AT BLYTH CENTRE FOR THE ARTS JUST FOR KIDS Goggles & Goop [September 27 - October 27] Marian Doucette, well-known local puppeteer and story-teller leads a five week course for children aged 5-12. Puppetry, mask-making, bag sculptureand weaving aresomeof thecrafts studied. Saturday mornings from 10am.-12 noon. Fee $35.00. YOUTH WORKSHOPS Introduction to Acting [September 27- October 25] Peter Smith, incoming Artistic Director of the Blyth Festival and an actor will lead a five week course in acting for youth aged 13-18. Thursday evenings 7-10 pm. Fee $50.00. ADVANCED WORKSHOPS [For Adults & Mature Students] Stagecraft rSeotember 28 - October 26] Each of the five sessions will be devoted to a different aspect of the elements crucial to a successful stage production: lighting design; set design - ground-plans, flats, construction and scenic painting; costume design; and sound design. Classes Friday evenings 7-10 pm. Fee: $75.00. Introduction to Directing [September 29 - October 271 Katherine Kaszas, artistic director of the Blyth Festival, will conduct a five week session, investigating the rudiments of directing. Under the instructor’s guidance, each student will - direct an individual scene for group discussion. Enrollment limited to ages 16and up. Classes Saturday mornings 10 am. -1 pm. Fee: $75.00. For more information about classes and special events at the Blyth Centre for the Arts, call the Box Office at [519J523-9300.