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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-10-17, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1990. Theatre review Is it over yet?Entertainment BY KEITH ROULSTON “Farther West’’, John Murrell’s play which opened at the Grand Theatre in London Friday night, is the kind of play you’re supposed to if not like, at least admire if you’re seriou^ about theatre. First of all it’s serious and, supposedly profound. Secondly it’s non-naturalistic in form and langu­ age which is supposed to be good because in the eyes of artists, theatre should stand away from the more naturalistic forms of movies and television. And in 1986 the play won the Chalmers Award as best new Canadian play in Toronto. As if that doesn’t make it politically-correct enough to like “Farther West” there’s the fact that because of violence, nudity and some course language, all kinds of “philistines” are bound to walk out and cancel their subscrip­ tions to the theatre. If these people are shocked, the play must be good, the thinking goes. As direc­ tor John Cooper said in a recent newspaper article: “Part of the gas of doing what we do is that you get to challenge people’s ideas. Art is to challenge. Art is to invite you to look at something from an alterna­ tive perspective.” Given all that, it’s a bit daunting to admit you failed the challenge. It’s a bit like the little boy who shouted that the emperor had no clothes on to say that for all its praise the play is just plain boring. In fact, far from being appalled by the male and female nudity on stage, one could almost hope for more of it as the one way to add some excitement to this plodding two and a half hours. Mr. Murrell uses the life and death of May Buchanan as a symbol of the yearning for freedom that most of us feel but never pursue as she does. In the 1880’s the promiscuous young woman follows the advice of her father who tells her there is no place for her in polite, civilized society so she’ll have to travel farther west to the edges of civilization. Since a woman had few options in how to earn a living at the time, she becomes a prostitute, first at Rat Portage (Thunder Bay), then as civilization catches up to her, in Calgary and finally Vancouver where she runs out of country. In Calgary and Vancouver she is pursued by two men: a policeman who wants to run her out of town, then becomes obsessed with saving her soul; and another man who is in love with her and wants her to settle down on his farm on the barren prairie. Both follow her to Vancouver with tragic results. Whether it’s Mr. Murrell’s script or the Gand’s production of it, the message sinks in pretty quickly and the audience is left hoping for something else. The cast tries bravely but it’s pretty hard to get to know or care for any of these people. You keep waiting for more insights but instead you’re asked to live with having the same old one-note message drummed into your head. Although all the characters are uneducated, they speak in a kind of semi-poetic, non-naturalistic dia­ logue that doesn’t make them come alive. The setting too is unrealistic, a steeply raked platform of rough- sawn lumber which, when spruced up with trees and clothes-lines and walls that float down from the fly-gallery above, can be easily transformed to any of the various locations required by the play. Given that naturalism is avoided for most of the other aspects of the show one wonders why it is so necessary, as Mr. Cooper explain­ ed in the newspaper article, to make the sex scenes as authentic as possible. Not that there’s much to worry about corrupting the virtues of good Londoners. The opening scene does feature Mae (Lorena Gale) lying naked on a bed, then getting up and dressing but the with the dim lighting on stage there is little to see, from the orchestra seats at least. Would there was so much rea­ lism late in the production where it takes on a melodramatic tone worthy of road show plays of the era. The last half hour sees wounded people either hauling themselves around the stage or being hauled, half dead, by others. After a while titters broke out in the matinee audience. Outside in the parking lot later, one man was overheard comparing to the Friday the 13th movies where the hideous monster keeps coming back from the grave. It’s too bad because it loses the effect of a truly stunning final scene in which designer Astrid Janson pulls out all the stops. The boards split to imitate a harbour inlet, filled with water with a real rowboat floating in it. Mist and the splendid lighting of Kevin Fraser (he did ‘Firefly’ and many other productions at Blyth over the years) make it a memorable ending. By then, however, most of the audi­ ence at this performance were just waiting for any ending that would finally get them out of this play they were beginning to think was going to go on forever. ALL YOU CAN EAT BEEF SUPPER October 18 5-7p.m. Blyth Memorial Hall Adults$7.00, Children$3.50, Preschoolers free Sponsored by YUK YUK’S X COMING TO THE WINGHAM INN 1 Night Only Tues. Nov. 6th a SHOW STARTS AT 9:30 P.M. TICKETS $5.00 ADVANCE ORS7.00ATTHE DOOR 357-3811 Joanne Miller (Nettie Mc­ Dowell) comforts Sandi Ross (Lily Reeves) in a scene from John Murrell’s Farther West, a passionatestory of a woman who seeks freedom from society’s restrictions. Theplayisatthe Grand Theatre in London until Nov. 3. MILLIE & ALF The family and friends of Alf and Mildred Nichol, wish to extend an invitation to B. M. & G. Community Centre, Brussels on October 20, from 9:00-1.00. Your presence will be our cherished gift. Ken & Leona McDonald The family of Ken and Leona McDonald wish to invite you to an open house on the occasion of their parents 40th anniversary at the Walton Hall on Sunday, October28 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Your presence is their cherished gift. Ji PARK THEATRE DIE HARDER! 8 PM ONLY LONG DISTANCE? CALL I-800-265-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO o ADMITTANCE 2 DAYS ONLY Fri. & Sat. Oct. 19 & 20 7 & 9 PM Nitely MICHAEL J. FOX CHRISTOPHER LLOYD MARY STEENBURGEN HARD2 Sun. - Thurs. Oct. 21-25 We are now accepting reservations for CHRISTMAS PARTIES Book early to avoid disappointment FIND OUT ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GROUP RATES AND MENUS the Blyth IW 523-9381 the Blyth Iw 523 9381 WEEKEND SPECIALS EAT IN OR TAKE OUT PIZZA THURS.,FRI.&SAT. 5:00P.M.-MI0NIGHT BUY ONE & GET ONE FOR 1/2 PRICE THURS., FRI. & SAT. 5 P.M.-MIDNIGHT "'WING NIGHT All Wings 25c ea. [Sorry no take-out orders] OPEN HOUSE RECEPTION October20, 9p.m.-1 a.m. BLYTH & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE Everyone Welcome Best Wishes Only 25t& Randy and Eleanor Babcock