Village Squire, 1980-07, Page 27UPDATE
CENTRE IN THE SQUARE TO OPEN
When Kitchener's new art complex, The
Centre In The Square, opens in September,
it will be the home of Canada's most
advanced theatre.
The Centre In The Square incorporates a
wide range of important features in its
design. It has a "T" style stage, common
in European opera houses, the world's only
air suspended moveable towers, and
seating for 1, 920 people in continental
fashion with no aisles.
A variety of innovations at the Centre
aim to offer a delicate acoustical balance.
Special provisions have been made to
accommodate the handicapped, including a
hearing aid system through which program
sound is transmitted directly to those
hard -of -hearing.
It has the world's only orchestra pit
modelled after Richard Wagner's Bayreuth
Opera House pit.
Wagner's special design, described as
"the ideal orchestra pit". uses three levels
of orchestra area. The design aims at
providing harmonious instrumental distri-
bution within the pit.
The design provides acoustically bal-
anced sound from the orchestra and gives
musicians a better view of the conductor.
The pit, accommodating 110 musicians,
will be the largest in Canada.
Organizers say the features of this
theatre will enhance the prospects of
Kitchener becoming the only city in the
country capable of staging the "Wagner
Ring Cycle", which could take place in the
not -too -distant future.
The Centre In The Square opens
September 20.
YOUTH CHOIR AT STRATFORD
A new look at Stratford this year will be a
newly -formed youth choir which will give
performances from their repertoire which
ranges from Broadway show tunes through
classical and opera.
The 32 singers are between 20 and 25
years old and were selected in nation-wide
auditions. They will be under the direction
of Robert Cooper, who has been conductors
of the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir
and the Ontario Youth Choir.
The group will make their concert debut
in August when they will appear with
guest stars from the Festival Company.
The guest for the first performance August
11 will be William Hutt who with the choir
will explore the tradition of the Broadway
musical which will include the work of
Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jerome Kern
and George Gershwin. Special emphasis
will be on the work of Stephen Sondheim.
On August 11 Peter Ustinov will act as
the guide as the choir journeys through the
world of music - classical music and opera,
modern composition and jazz.
On August 25, Jessica Tandy and Hume
Cronyn will join the Youth Choir to
examine the love song. The couple will also
explore the many expressions of love in
poetry, plays and prose.
Earlier in the season the young singers
will participate in "The Beggar's Opera",
a new production of John Gay's ballad
opera.
The idea of a youth choir for Stratford
originated from an appearance by the
Ontario Youth Choir at the Festival's
opening in 1979. Their performance led
artistic director Robin Phillips to investi-
gate forming a youth choir at Stratford.
FRENCH SCHOOL TO KEEP CLASSES
The Huron County Roman Catholic
School Board unanimously voted down a
proposal in May which would have ended
primary classes in French at Ecole Ste.
Marie, near Zurich.
The policy of a 12 member delegation
from the school was that the area could not
afford to lose the bilingual school because
this would mean also losing long term
benefits to "the community, to our
province, and to Canada."
If the proposal had been accepted, 12
primary students from kindergarten to
Grade 3 would have been bussed to St.
Boniface School, four miles away.
The delegation reminded the board of
former students of Ecole Ste. Marie who
were now teaching French, and of others
who found the second language an asset in
their occupations.
The delegation added closing another
bilingual school in Ontario would only
provide further support for the separatist
cause in Quebec.
It was also pointed out that the Ecole
Ste. Marie ratepayers were anxious that
their school maintain its character.
CHAMPION ROAD SPONSORS BLYTH
PLAY
Champion Road Machinery Limited has
announced it will sponsor this year's first
production of the Blyth Summer Festival,
"John and the Missus", by Canadian
writer and actor Gordon Pinsent.
Bruce Sully, president of Champion,
made the announcement on behalf of his
company. The play opens July 4.
This donations marks the first time a
company has agreed to sponsor a produc-
tion at the Festival. Private funding fills
the gap between the costs of presenting
performances and the money raised
through the box office, fundraising and
government grants.
The Pinsent play tells the story of John
Munn, a miner in a Newfoundland village,
and features a combination of music,
humour and drama.
THE BOOK STORE
21 MAIN STREET, GRAND BEND,
We have . .
• BOOKS! BOOKS! BOOKS!
• MAGAZINES [over 3001
• GREETING CARDS
• GAMES & GIFTS
Our paperback inventory is the
largest in the area. We also have
the best in hobby games including
Dungeons and Dragons, UNO,
Battleship, Snit's Revenge, and
others.
We are open 7 days a week - 9 till 9
-why not drop in and browse.
"'7HAVE YOU
=�_ READ A
GOOD
BOOK LATELY?
VILLAGE SQUIRE/JULY 1980 PG. 25