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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-08-19, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1987. Entertainment 'Medicine show' talks about nuclear war The Blyth Festival’s Young Company’s drama, “Off Track”, was presented in three performances to capacity crowds last Thursday and Friday at the Theatre Garage. The story of Ontario’s unique Schools-on-Wheels, the original play starred [from left] Joanne Olson, Rachel Thompson, Heather Merton, Severn Thompson, Brad Milbum, Kris Chandler and Sarah Jane Hood. Theatre review Production deserved ovation BY TOBY RAINEY The youths of the Blyth Festi­ val’s Young Company certainly deserved the standing ovation they received Friday night from an enthusiasticand packed house, which included Cela Sloman of Clinton, part of the inspiration behind the whole show. Five short weeks earlier, none of the dozen or so young people involved in the production had ever heard of Ontario’s travelling School-on-Wheels, or of the Slo­ man family which operated the best-known of the seven cars which plied the Northern Ontario bush­ land for nearly 40 years. Teddy Bear's picnic Aug. 23 “If you go down to ‘the Falls’ today, you ’ re in for a big surprise. ’ ’ Ail kinds of teddy bears are having a picnic and you, your family and your teddy bears are invited too! The Teddy Bear’s Picnic will be held on Sunday, August 23 at the Falls Reserve Conservation Area. There is free day use admission to ‘The Falls’ for this event. Registration is from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. and the fun begins at 1:00 p.m. with judging for the best dressedteddy, the oldest teddy and the most original teddy bear’s name. Prizes donated by Goderich and area merchants, will be awarded. Activities such as potato sack races, obstacle races and guessing games will provide fun for the family all afternoon. Bring along a picnic supper to end an exciting and “bearable” day. For further information on the Teddy Bear’s Picnic, contact the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority at 335-3557 or Falls Reserve at 524-6429. Falls Reserve Conservation Area is located at Benmiller, along the Maitland River. And yet this remarkable theatre group, under the professional direction of Toronto’s Leah Cher­ niak and Martha Ross, took the story suggested by the Blyth Festival’s artistic director Kather­ ine Kaszas and turned it into a powerful drama of great sensitiv- ty, perfectlyinvokingthemesof loneliness, communication and education which were the hall­ marks of the very special men and women who taught in the north during this unique time in Ontario educational history. The story involves a burnt-out teacher, Mr. Blackwell (played by Blyth’s Tom Bailey), teaching the history of the Schools-on-Wheels to a bored and inattentive class in a modern setting. After being driven to distraction by the antics of the class, Mr. Blackwell sends most of them off to the principal’s office, and inflicts the punishment of writing an essay over the long weekend on the most fractious student, Stephen Brambrie (play­ ed by Brad Milburn of RR 2, Clinton.) The action moves to a train station and on to a train, where Stephen and Mr. Blackburn meet again, to their mutual displeasure, and culminates in a realistic train crash, where the wretched Mr. Blackwell is knocked unconscious, only to embark on an outstanding dream. In his dream, the irascible old curmudgeon finds himself alone in a strange land, is forced to seek help from people who do not speak his language, and eventually becomesa witness toan experi­ ment in teaching which brings out all the best in both teacher and class. Needless to say, Mr. Blackburn is changed forever by this experi- ence, and becomes both a much more generous human being, and presumably an excellent teacher. Mr. Milburn does much to steal the show as the acrobatic and irrepressible Stephen, but in a way Mr. Bailey has a much more difficult part to play, turning in a solid performance without ever cracking a smile, no matter what comic antics go on around him, and slowly emerging as a changed and humbled, but joyous, man. The secondary characters are without exception excellent, with each taking on several different guises as the story emerges. Severn and Rachel Thompson, daughters of Paul Thompson, former director of Theatre Passe Muraille, deserve special mention for their quicksilver personalities and accurate personifications of the characters they portray, as does Monkton’s Sarah Jane Hood, the 12-year-old star who turns in a perfect performance as a spoiled six-year-old. The set design, by Brad Milburn and Michael Higgins, is simple but effective, with clever use of props setting the mood and smooth set changes effected by the cast itself as part of the overall story. After the final performance on Friday, the cast presented flowers to both Ms. Cherniak and Ms. Ross, who in turn bestowed small gifts on each of the players they had come to know so well in so short a time. Later, the cast and crew had a chance to meet Mrs. Sloman, her daughters and grandson, for whom (as Mary Hood, Sarah Jane’s mother) said, inspired the cast to its best and final effort. 30 ON THE 19th HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN It’s a wonderful medicine show mixture of theatre, music, magic, andsnakeoil. It’s “Bossin’s Home Remedy For Nuclear War” and it will be at the Blyth Memorial Hall for one performance only on October 15 at 8 p.m. “Bossin’s Home Remedy For Nuclear War” features Bob Bos­ sin, widely acknowledged as one of Canada’s best songwriters and well-known across the country for his work with Canada’s premier folk group, “Stringband” and his solo performances. In his persona ofsnake oil salesman, Dr. Bossin in “Bossin’s Home Remedy”, Bob has been called “a marvelous performer... a combination of Pete Seeger and Groucho Marx” by the Jewish Bulletin. The show garnered rave reviews Hospital sponsors whodunnit University Hospital in London has come up with a novel and mysterious way to raise funds for its programs. • Saturday, August29 the hospital will hold ‘ ‘ Mystery in the Park’ ’ on Fanshawe Park. A murder takes place, a body is found and teams of detectives go to work to solve the mystery from the clues provided. In addition to the mystery the afternoon will be full with field sports, live entertainment, an option to camp overnight on the site and a gourmet dinner. Several London restaurants will combine to the gourmet meal. There will also be an opportunity to win $2,000 in cash and prizes. The event takes place from 1:30 to 10 p.m. Tickets are available through Centennial Hall Box office in London or the University Hospital Foundation at 663-3195. THURS., FRI., SAT 5P.M.-12A.M. Blyth Inn EAT IN OR TAKE OUT 523 9381 SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 SOCIAL HOUR 6-7 SUPPER 7-8 p.m. DANCING 9-1 TO STEVENS COUNTRY GOLD $7 per person for both; $3.50forchildrenunder 12 [BBQonly] at its premier performances at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre in April, 1986. The WestEnder prais­ ed it as “highly entertaining and provocative ... the kind of political theatre that is too rare’’. The Vancouver Sun got right into the spirit of the show and urged people to “step right up and try Bossin’s Home Remedy ... a snake-oil cure that is two parts comedy, two parts disarming political theatre and a liberal dose of catchy songwrit­ ing.” Dr. Bossin personally guaran­ tees that his bottled Home Remedy will absolutely prevent nuclear war or your money refunded! Bottles of “Bossin’s Home Remedy For Nuclear War” are available only at performances of his show. To get this marvellous cure, call 482-9706 for tickets. “Bossin’sHome Remedy For Nuclear War" is sponsored by Women Today and the Huron Medical Society. Tickets are $8 advance. $10 door and $15 dinner and show. Although the records say that the peach was introduced to England in 1562, rumor has it that 400 years earlier King John I died following an over-indulgence of the delectable fruit. Another monarch who loved peaches was the renowned gour­ mand King Louis XIV of France. He once granted a pension to a supplier of particularly fine peach­ es. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Me- Clinchey, Auburn, and Mr. and Mrs. William Stratton, Hanover, are pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children, Glenyce Marie to Steven William. The wedding will take place on Saturday, September 5, 1987, 3:00 p.m. Auburn United Church. Open reception to follow, Blyth Community Centre.