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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1987-06-24, Page 19Entertainment THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1987. PAGE 19. Theatre review Festival opens spectacular production BY KEITH ROULSTON “Girls in the Gang”, by John Roby and Raymond Storey, the opening production atthe Blyth Festival Friday night, may be the most spectacular production in the Festival’s history, full of music, beautiful women in beautiful costumes, fine choreography, a huge story and fine performances. There may, however, be just a smidge too much of a lot of good things. The opening night audience gave the opening night perfor mance a deserved standing ovation butasthey leftthe auditorium a number of people were looking at their watch as the performance crept past the two and a half hour mark. There are many long periods intheplay when nobody notices time flying by. There are a few instances where things slow down. Future productions (there are already two productions scheduled elsewhere after Blyth) will no doubt remedy those small pro blems. “Girls in the Gang” tells the story of the infamous “Boyd Gang” that became celebrity criminals in the early 1950’s ... or rather, it tells the story of the women marriedtoor associated with, the members of the gang of bankrobbers. From September 9, 1949 when Edwin Alonso Boyd robbed his first banktoSept. 29,1952whentwo Brussels Homecoming BINGO Thursday, July 2 BMG Community Centre at 7:45 p.m. Over $1OOO in Prizes DOORSOPEN AT6:30P.M. Jack Pot Prize $300; Early Bird Bingo; Share-the-Wealth DOOR PRIZES COARSE LANGUAGE 18° [ PARENTAL I * GUIDANCE BROWNIE'S DRIVE-IN 169 BEECH ST., CLINTON 482-7030 OPEN AT 8: ,’O P.M. - FIRST SHOW AT DUSK * * * * * ************** •••••••••••••••».. 0 e t c s s o "IT" U Hl mull.................... iinmi X±REI PARK THEATRE ....... GODERICH i 524-7811 fri.-sat 7 & 9 members of the gang, Steve Suchan and Lennie Jackson were sentenced to hang for the murder of a policeman who was chasing them, the gang was front page copy for all the Toronto newspapers. Behind the headlines were the women who loved them: Dorreen Boyd, Eddie’s wife; Ann Jackson, Lennie’s wife; and Mary Mitchell and Anna Bosnich, both in love with Steve Suchan. Mary Mitchell is the femme fatale of the group, a bored beauty, jealous and vindictive who, in this version of the story anyway, eventually causes the gang’s fall in a fit of jealousy when Suchan goes back to Anna. Patrician Vanstone has a great time in the part, getting to wear the slinkiest costumes and deliver the bitchiest and cleverest lines. In a way the most interesting of the women is Anna, played by Wayne Nicklas [right] is the tough cop who tries to get information about the Boyd Gang from Patricia Vanstone in “Girls in the Gang’’ the musical by John Roby and Raymond Storey that opened the Blyth Festival Friday night. — Photo by James Hockings. heart had been better developed. Karen Barker as Ann Jackson has to take a backseat to the other women during much of the play but has a fine scene near the end when, alone with Lennie before his execution, she angrily tells him she won’ttell their young son about him at all because Lenny was so busy worrying about helping pro tect Steve in court that he ended up getting himself hanged as well, leaving wife and child to fend for themselves. The women may have been in the background of the real Boyd Gang story but here they have front and centre whilethemen are almost props in the background. Still the men do their job well, particularly in the stylized, choreographed action sequences which help give the impression of exciting bank Continued on page 20 'Donee for CHARLES&SHARONSNELL [fire victims] ONFRIDAY.JUNE26 at Goderich Community Centre, Holmesville Music by Country Companions Dancing9-1 Ladies please bring lunch AN EXUBERANTLY COMIC MOVIE. Deliciously demonic. Nicholson gives a knock-out performance. A devilishly good time. -GeneShalit. TODAY. NBC-TV Rob Salem TORONTO STAR | FRIGHTENING SCENES ; |COARSE LANGUAGE Joel Se.ger GOOO MORNING AMERICA Valeric Gregory EDMONTON SUN SUN.- thurs. 7:30 2.50 TUES. ENDS THURS. 7:30 NIGHTLY AMERICAN NINJA 2 SPECIAL MATINEES SAT. & SUN. The 2:00 P.M. Alvin’s First Adventure'-' Picture! Martha Irving. She’s older, more mature yet falls for a younger man despite herself and, when she discovers he’s a crook, still can’t bring herself to stay away from him. Ms. Irving gives her a quiet dignity that sets her aside from the other women in the gang. Doreen Boyd goes from insisting Eddie quit robbing banks at the beginning of the play to telling him he shouldn’t give himself up until he gets fairer treatment from the press, at the end of the play. Beth Ann Cole, one of the country’s top musical-comedy performers does well in the part but one can’t help wishing she was given a little more to work with, that her change of Getaway to comfort, elegance and total relaxation... Award winning dining room, fireplaces, sauna, whirlpool and antique filled bedrooms The Little Inn of Bayfield Forieservations (519) 565"26!f Keystone Al ley Cafe Monday 11a.m. -5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.8a.m.-9p.m Sunday-Closed 519-271-5645 Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie information THURS., FRI., SAT 5P.M.-12A.M. Blyth Inn EAT IN OR TAKE OUT 523-9381 A PARENTAL 1 GUIDANCEA comedy beyond belief. / WINGHAM Playing from Friday to Thursday, June 26 to July2 Showtimes: Fridayand Saturday at 7and 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday One show each evening at 8p.m.only 524^9810 STflNQ DRIVE-IN goomichI i iiiftimift ft,, ,,,-n, iiiiWiiiiiffiimftnuifli 11 ■ STARTING FRIDAY, JUNE 26th OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK PLAYING FRIDAY TO TUESDAY ................. #hmlKl 2nd FEATURE THE SECRET OF MY Success MICHAEL J. FOX SORRY NO $2.50 TUESDAY, RETURNS JULY 7th MICHAEL J. FOX PLAVIN6 POR BACK TO THE FUTURE & g *ADDED SUNDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT, FOR THE BEST IN ALL NIGHTERS OPENING JULY 1st STEVEN SPIELBURG INNER SPACE