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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-12-02, Page 42PAGE 42. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1987. Blyth boy returns from experience of lifetime Ji •. . .1 Hejalsogotanexfra($4UUperweek Jim are thrilled and proud that on tour for expenses, but says that their son has had such a unique even that amount doesn’t go very opportunity. “It’sachancethathis far when you have to live and eat in mother and l could never have hotels. “Sometimes I cleared 'as given him,” Mr. Buttonsexplains, much as $250 a week^on the tour, but I spent a lot because there were ways, too. so many things to do in Edmonton - we went to the West Edmonton Mall, and to the National Rodeo Finals while we were there, and Jody, sees the least change in her stuff like that.” - brother, but says she’s glad to have Nevertheless, Jim Button says him back, too. thatthe family has been able to put ' “It was pretty boring here with aside a nice little nest egg for otfty me and Dad,” Jody says. Jerrod’s future education; and • i’Now I have somebody to fight Mrs. Button says that both she and with again. ’ ’ “He’s changed in a lot of little ’’ his mother adds. “ He ’ s a lot more independent, and I guess that’s good.” Jerrod’s nine-year-old sister, Blyth's Jerrod Button, right, chats with his stage grandparents, actors Lee J. Campbell and Nicola Lipman, in a scene from “ Another Season’s Promise. ’ ’ The 10-y ear-old boy toured with the Bly th Festival play from southern Ontario to Edmonton over the past summer and fall. - Photo by James Hockings. GODERICH ROTARY CLUB presents ORCHESTRA LONDON G.D.C.I. AUDITORIUM Also on February 19: “Jeans & the Classics" Brian Jackson & G.D.C.I. Concert Band BY TOBY RAINEY Eleven-year-old Jerrod Button ofBlythisonecool dude, totally unaffected by being the only child actor in a two-province tour by the Blyth Festival, a tour which took him from the local stage to the prestigious Citadel Theatre in Edmonton over the past summer and fall. “It was sort of fun, I guess, but it gotboring,too,“Jerrodsaid. “It’s not something that grown-up people would do.” He adds that the best part of the whole thing was getting to eat three brownies at every perfor­ mance of “Another Season’s Promise,’’ the acclaimed play co-authored by Anne Chislett and Keith Roulston, who were also the co-founders of the Blyth Festival. ‘ ‘ Promise “is the first play produc- ed in Blyth to ever go on such an extensive tour, which began on the Elythstageinlate August, then travelled to a number of southern Ontario theatres before going on to the Algoma Arts Festival in Sault Ste. Marie in mid-October and on to a month-long run at the Citadel, concluding on November 22. “It gets to be pretty boring, doing the same thing over again 80 times. There were some times that I wanted to quit, but at first my Dad wouldn’t let me, and then later, in Edmonton, when I got really fed up one day, I void Bernice (Passchier) thatlcouldn’tgoon,” Jerrod says. “But she told me 1’d have to talk to Katherine (Kaszas, the Blyth Festival’s artistic director) about it, and since she wasn’t there, there wasn’t a heck of a lot I could do.” Blyth Festival house manager Bernice Passchier was Jerrod’s mentor and tutor during the tour, but Jerrod says that she was too busy with other things in her job to give him a lot of attention. So when the pressure got too great , Jerrod’s mother, Jetta, was able to take a leave of absence from her job as a homemaker with Town and Coun­ try Homemakers of Wingham to travel to Edmonton to take over some of the time and attention her son needed. “Eighthoursaday, six days a week for nearly four months is a lot for a little boy to cope with, ’ ’ Mrs. Button says. Originally, she had only planned on attending opening night at The Citadel, but wound up staying for the whole month when she realized that her son needed her there. “The others in the troupe were really good with Jerrod; they treated him just like ohe of themselves. But he’s still justa child,” she said. Despite being “pretty tired” by the whole thing and glad to get back home, Jerrod says'he only missedadayandhhalfof school after he returned to Blyth last week. Then it was back to the books as usual in his Grade 6 class at Blyth Public School, where he says he doesn’t seem to have missed much - except that somebody changed the rules of basketball while he was away. “It helps that Jerrod has always been a good student,” says his father, Jim Button. “Of course the school wouldn’t have let him go on the tour if it didn’t think he could catch up on his work when he got back.” Bill Black, principal of Blyth Public School, says that the tour has probablv been of much more Size and color influence cabbage purchasing. “People -- especially in the urban centers -- prefer smaller cabbages,” says Joe Uye- naka of OMAF. In terms of color, green cabbage is the most popular variety; red cabbage is increasing steadily in demand. Savoy is, a fairly new variety that’s being discovered bv Ontario cooks. benefit to the young actor than the past three months of school would have been in life-long terms. “All the things he’s seen and done may not have clicked in yet, and he may have missed out on some paperwork by being away. But in the long run, the experien­ ces he’s had will stand him in good stead throughout his whole life,” Mr. Black said. Jerrod doesn’t think he’d like to go on to an acting career, but says he would consider trying out for a part at the Blyth Festival again next summer - provided he didn’t have to go on tour. “The money is pretty nice,” he comments, pointing out that he had been able to buy some “neal stuff” with his actor’s cheques ol $150 per week while he performed in Blyth, plus the $200 per week he got while the play was on the road AUCTION SALE Riding lawn mower, air compressor, welder, anvil, shop equipment and tools. To be held for the estate of Nelson Reid at Walton. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12at10:30a.m. See next week’s paper for full listing. AUCTIONEER: RICHARD LOBB, 482-7898 Thursday, December 17 at 7:45 p.m with Howard Cable & the G.D.C.I, Jazz Choir “Songs of the Season” ADULTS: *20. FAMILY: *50. STUDENTS & SENIORS: *15 TICKETS AT: King's Bookstore, Campbell's, Radio Shack, Ellison Travel, Exeter WINTER CLOTHING. FOOTWEAR for the whole Family BULK BAKING GOODS, BULK SPICES, BULK FOOD, BULK CANDY, GROCERY ITEMS SPECIAL PRICES IN EFFECT FOR THE BAKING SEASON All Purpose Flour - 10 kg. bag $6.95 Blanched Peanuts Salted or Unsalted NEW&USED FURNITURE. ANTIQUES CARPET GIFTWARE Desks - $119“ Microwave Stands - $119” Nightstands ______- $69” The wingham sales Arena EVERYTHING UNDER ONE ROOF Open Monday - Saturday 9-6 p.m * Fri. nights till 9 p.m.