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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-05-20, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1987. Entertainment Festival Singers prepare for concert Angus Sinclair directs members of the 34-voice Blyth Festival Singers through a rehearsal in preparation for their season-ending concert May 31 at Blyth Memorial Hall. The Singers will be joined by the CHSS choir. Blyth Festival takes show on road to Edmonton Another Season’s Promise, a play on the financial crunch on a Huron County farm will tour across the Canadian Prairies this fall on the Blyth Festival’s first ever western tour. The Festival’s production of Another Season’s Promise, co­ written by Anne Chislett and Keith Roulston, will be at the Citadel’s regular subscription series. Pro­ mise, workshopped and premiered atthe Blyth Festival in 1986, will be thefinal productionofthe Blyth Festival’s current season, and then heads out on tour. The “Promise” tour starts in southern Ontario in mid-Septem- ber and includes many now-fami- liar stops such as Waterloo, Durham, Fergus, Chatham, and Petrolia, plus new venues (Belle­ ville, St. Catharines, Markham) which have been added to the route. The tour then moves through northern Ontario where an engagement in Sault Ste. Marie is confirmed and other venues are under consideration. ‘ ‘This is a way for us to share our successes with the rest of the country” said Artistic Director Katherine Kaszas, “and it is a reflection of the high regard in which the Blyth Festival is held by theatres and audiences alike from coast to coast. We have built a The green revolution revisited Continued from page 5 hitch. Borlauggotthemoney he needed but ran into problems when it came to having it administered. However, he did succeed in persuading some of the same scientists who worked with him in India and China to go into Sudan and Ghana. In spite of the limited number of them, not to mention a minimum of funding, they have had remarkable successes in both the above countries. reputation for excellence over the years and people are responding to that reputation by bringing in our tours, and by producing our plays.” This tour marks the first time the Blyth Festival has toured a produc­ tion into western Canada although other plays developed here have received performances in Calgary, Winnipeg, and throughout Mani­ toba. For example, Garrison’s Garage - a big success in Blyth in Hullett marsh inspiration for champion carver The Hullett Marsh wildlife area provided the inspiration for a young carver who recently won the 1987 World Championship Wild­ fowl Carving Competition. Jason Lucio, 16, of Mount Brydges, whose parents have a country home in Hullett township, was named winner of the cham­ pionship held April 24 - 26 in Ocean City, Maryland. The annual event, which features competition be­ tween the leading wildlife artists in the world, is sponsored by the Ward Foundation of Salisbury, Maryland which operates the North American Wildfowl Arts Museum on the campus of Salis­ In 420 demonstration plots in Sudan’s dry areas, they managed to increase the sorghum yields no less than sixfold. The success was not quite so noticeable in Ghana but yields there were double ■ previous figures. By the end of the next growing season, if current successes are repeated, Borlaug will go to both governments in an attempt to get them involved. Borlaug admits that it may be difficult to duplicate the successes of either China or India. There 1984 and 1985 - was produced by the ManitobaTheatre Centre in early 1986. The production, direc­ ted by Katherine Kaszas, toured to over 80 communities in Manitoba. Another Season’s Promise opens at the Blyth Festival on August 25 and plays through to September 12, before starting on the tour. The southern Ontario portion of the tour has been co-sponsored by the Ideal Supply, Listowel, and Sparling’s Propane Col. Ltd. of Blyth. bury State College. Jason won awards in several categories including first place for a carving of a wood duck drake, first place for a carving of a Mallard drake, third place for the best marsh duck and first place, and the A. Danner Frazer Memorial Award and trophy for the best carving at the world championships by a carver under 18 years of age. Jason’s award-winning Wood Duck carving will be on display at the North American Wildfowl Art Museum for one year. A total of $65,000 was awarded to top artists during the competi­ tion. were many more things in his favour in those countries than in either the Sudan or Ghana. In spite of this, the American scientist may just pull it off. He got his Nobel Prize as much for his tenacity as he did for his science and, as one observer has pointed out, the India experiment was written off just before it produced the green revolution in that country. Therewill certainly be alot of people hoping Borlaug can dupli­ cate his success. The slowly evolving face of the Blyth Festival Singers will be shown when the choir joins with the Central Huron Secondary Choir on May 31 for a potpourri of music as the final concert of the 1986-87 season. Music will range from broadway tunes (Some Enchanted Evening) to spirituals. The spirituals are part of preparations the Singers are makingtotakepartin the movie Blue City Slammers being shot in Blythlaterthismonthand next. The singers will provide backg- ground music for the film and will perform the spirituals. This will be the second time the Singers have branched out of their normal concert activities. Several years ago they appeared in a play at the Blyth Festival. The Singers’, movie debut is perhaps indicative of a new theatricality brought to the choir’s activities by new choir director Angus Sinclair. The Stratford­ based director has stressed show­ manship in his productions. In the Christmas production, for in­ stance, the male members of the choir sang the Boar’s Head Carol while carrying a boar’s head into the theatre. Choir president Judy Morton of Belgrave says the choir will be spending the next few months mapping out just what its plans for the coming years will be. “We know we’re going somewhere but we don’t know just where yet,” Mrs. Morton said. The new emphasis, whatever it is, will put more fun into music for the 34 members of the choir and the audience as well. Mr. Sinclair, she says, is brimming with ideas for the choir’s future and has already been planning next year’s concerts. One of the movies the choir may make next year is to take their show on the road more, notonlydoing their usual sold-out Christmas concert in Blyth, but touring to other places as well. Part of the planning for next year will be the recruiting of additional choir members. New members are always welcome Mrs. Morton says, and they can get more information by calling her at Horticultural Society Continued from page 6 of dahliabulbs, African violets, coleus, baby’s tears and many others which realized a sum of $25. The president thanked those who had helped to rake the horticultural park earlier in the season. To date there are 125 members with one district still remaining to be canvassed - the area north of the bridge on the east side of Turn­ berry Street. Anyone who has been missed and wishes to help out can give a $1 donation. THURS., FRI., SAT 5P.M.-12A.M. Blyth Inn EAT IN OR TAKE OUT 523-9381 357-3791 or can show up when the choir holds its first practice in September. The May 31 concert brings together two of the finest choirs in Huron county. The Central Huron Secondary School choir, directed by Louise McGregor who is also accompanist for the Festival Sin­ gers, recently won three first prizes at the London Kiwanis Music Festival. The choir, includ­ ing many members from the Blyth-Londesboro area, will per­ form about half the music in the concert. Also performing will be a brass section from the CHSS concert band. The three groups will join together for a triumphant finale in The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Tickets for the concert at $5 for adults and $1.50 for children are now on sale from choir members, from The Saga in Blyth and from the Festival box office. Keystone Al ley Cafe 1Brunswick Street, Stratford Monday 11a.m.-5 p.m. Tues -Sat. 8a.m.-9p.m Sunday-Closed 519-271-5645 Maitland Restaurant Everyday Specials Licenced L.L.B.O. Getaway to comfort, elegance and total relaxation... 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