HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-06-22, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1988. PAGE 23.
'The Cookie War' based on real life story
shopkeeper who sees a chance
cheque as the solution to many
problems, to the wiley but shining-
ly honest politician whom you know
you can trust implicitly to set things
rightatthe end. With May around,
you know that the people of
Rhinelandwilllivehappily ever
after.
Although the role of Addy
Weber places severe restrictions
on the irrepressible stage veteran
JudithOrbanwhostolethe show as
last season’s Miss Balmoral of the
Bay view, she does an admirable
job of portraying the old-order
Mennonite farm wife at the centre
of thecorporatewarragingover
her traditional cookie recipe. Like
any devoted wife, Addy manages
to keep most of her troubles from
her husband, Jacob (John Koens-
gen) while she struggles with the
materialistic devils she fears will
force her to betray her strongest
convictions. The scene where
Addy and May come to a bitter
parting is a wrenching one, leaving
Continued from page 23
BROWNIE'S
DRIVE-IN THEATRECookies cause tunnoil in a Mennonite community when two huge food companies battle over the patent
rights to a cookie based on an old recipe in “The Cookie War” the first play at the Blyth Festival season.
Donna Farron, [left] plays the cookbook writer caught in the middle between slick city lawyer Laurel Paetz
[centre] and old order Amish cook Judith Orban [right]. The play continues until September 3.
— 2nd FEATURE
BY TOBY RAINEY
The Cookie War is as delightful a
comedy as you’ll see anywhere, so
if you don’t already have tickets,
you’d better grab them while you
still can. This one won’t be long in
selling out.
Based on the real-life experience
of food-writer Edna Staebler, the
story is likely one of the best known
plots to have been brought to life on
the Blyth stage. But in the hands of
playwright Kathleen McDonnell
and director Francine Volker (both
new to the Festival stage), the story
is so full of deft twists and attention
to detail that the audience is
constantly caughtoff guard and
clamoring for more.
This writer saw the second
preview of the show, the night
before it officially opened on
Friday, but it is hard to imagine
how the performance could get
much better. We predict that 1988
won’t be the only season the
McDonnell-Volker team opens at
the Blyth Festival.
If acting be but a reflection of
life, Donna Farron gave an out
standing performance as May
Reimer, the lapsed Mennonite.
Despite the fact that May was
unwittingly responsible for the
calamity that threatens the way of
life of her “oldest and dearest’ ’
friend, she is the one who
invariably keeps her head when all
about her are losing theirs, the one
that you know will instinctively find
a way to make life run smoothly
again for her family and friends,
and for the little village of
Rhineland, Ontario, as its newly-
elected mayor.
Ms. Farron’s character very
definitely grows over the course of
the play as she changes from the
muddled and somewhat naive
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Music by DJ Friday June 24th
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SPECIAL ADMISSION FOR DISNEY PROGRAM
Adults ....................................... *4’’
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Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie information
Playing from Friday to Thursday, June24-30
Showtimes: Friday and Saturday at 7 and 9 pm
Sunday to Thursday
One show each evening at 8 p. m.
DAYBREAK
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AT THE SEAFORTH & DISTRICT
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