HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-08-06, Page 13Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, August 6, 1986—Page 113
Blyth Festival workshopping three new scripts
"Continuing our commitment to the de-
velopment of new Canadian plays„ the
Blyth Festival is workshopping three new
scripts", Artistic Director Katherine Kas-
zas announced today.
The first workshop, The Girls in the
Gang by Ray Storey of Edmonton, with
music and lyrics by John Roby, began on
July 28, It is about the lives of the
girlfriendsand wives of the infamous Boyd
Gang, 'a high -living, bank -robbing gang in
Toronto in the 1950s. This is not the first
time Storey and Roby have worked
togatherthey previously collaborated on
"Country chorale", which was workshop -
ped at the Blyth. Festival in 1981 and later
produced in Alberta and British Columbia.
Frequent visitors to the Festival will
remember with pleasure John Roby's
music in "Country Hearts", performed
here in 1982 and 1985. The Girls in the(
Gang was directed by Jackie Maxwell who
co -directed "Beaux Gestes and Beautify11.
Deeds" in Blyth in 1985.
Gerald Lenton (who appeared itfthe 1984
season productions "A Spider in the
House" and "Blue City") is the author of
the second workshop, The Third dist
•Christmas, which starts on August 4. This
is a lack comedy about a young man and
his wife who are returning to the family
home for his father's "last Christmas".
The father is dying - but has been doing so
for a number of years, and this is the third
such "last Christmas'". David Craig, who
adapted "Cue for Treason for the
children's workshops in Blyth rn 1984, will
direct Christmas,
Islands in the Moon by Kathleen
McDonnell, is the third and final workshop
of this summer, starting August 10. It is
the story of a young couple whose marriage
is threatened by their differing views over
how and where to bring up their two young
daughters. The father wants them all to
live in the 'yuppie' surroundings of middle-
class Toronto, while the mother yearns to
return to the Toronto Islands - where she
herself grew up - and the lifestyle enjoyed
by the inhabitants there. McDonnell is the
author of "Body Shop", worksliopped
Blyth in 1983, and "Risk Factors" which
was' recently produced in Toronto,
Members of the public are invited to
attend readings of the workshops on the
Saturday following the start of each work-
shop. The first will be held on August 2;
.the remainder un August 9 and August 16
respectively, There is no charge for attend-
ance at the readings; however, the Festival
would like to reiterate that these are wbrk.
shops and not finished productions no
costumes, props, or scenery are used.
Anyone interested in attending should
contact the administratio n office of the
Blyth Festival, 523-4345, a few days prior
to the reading date for final details about
exact Aim and place.
Contact your nearest W.G. Thompson Branch to
arrange Bus Transportation and Departure time.
Ho mall 2624327 Mltch.0 344433 Seaforth 3454545 Pt. Apert 529:7901 Ansa Cs&g 2934223 Granton 2254360