Village Squire, 1975-11, Page 31Theatre
Big boom
in summer
attendance
When the Stratford Festival released
figures last month showing 1975 to be a
record year for attendance, it completed rosey
reports from all the area summer theatre
ventures.
Bolstered by a longer season, the Festival
had its best year ever. Next year promises to
be even bigger with big stars like Maggie
Smith to be on the bill and with the North
American reputation of Robin Phillips
growing daily.
Likewise, over in Grand Bend it was the
best year ever. Housed solidly for the first
time in its new indoor, permanent barn
theatre building, the Huron Country
Playhouse greeted some 13,000 people and
met another 10,000 in tours of five other
centres. That meant a healthy 85 per cent of
capacity at the barn for the entire season.
The operation is now looking forward so
optimistically that season ticket sales for next
year began some time ago.
Meanwhile at the Blyth Summer Festival
plans are for a good deal of expansion for next
year. The first season of the Festival was an
unqualified success. The large theatre was
filled to 45% of its capacity of 400 seats for all
shows. The season was capped by the
tremendously successful original play Mostly
in Clover, adapted from the books of Harry J .
Boyle which drew 62% of capacity. The play
was so popular and was growing in popularity
near the end of the season, that artistic
director James Roy is considering running it
again next year as part of an expanded
season. Although plans are still not finalized
for next year, Mr. Roy is preparing for a
longer season with more productions and a
larger cast. He is considering several ideas
for original plays to be part of the bigger
season.
Those attending the festival next summer
will find a spruced up Memorial Hall theatre.
The Blyth Centre for the Arts, the sponsor of
the Summer Festival, has received an L.I.P
grant to refurbish the interior of the 50-yeo'
old theatre.
Work will begin in the new year.
Art
Heim building
a growing
reputation
Wingham artist Guenter Heim is slowly but
surely gaining the kind of reputation he's
been working for for a long time.
The former staff artist at CKNX television
has been working solely at painting for some
time now since he closed his country art
gallery and phased out of the graphic art
business.
Sweaters
BY
INGO, SHELBY AND
WARREN KNIT
In a variety of styles and
colours. Choose from
turtle -necks, cardigans,
long sleeve and sleeveless
pullovers in easy care
fabrics. In colours of blues,
wine, rust, beige, black,
reds, natural, white and
green.
FOR STYLE AND SELECTION
Earl Rawsons
Shop For Men
CORNER MONTREAL STREET AND
THE SQUARE
GODERICH
524-9312
30, VILLAGE SQUIRE/NOVEMBER 1975
Besides just plain hard work, Mr. Heim
seems to be benefiting most from a technique
he has mastered of using acrylic paints in a
wash technique. The paint is laid on, not in
blobs, but in fine layers, one on top of the
other so that in some places in the paintings
the viewer is actually looking at the sum of 10
to 12 layers of paint.
The technique gives his ISaintings a
subtlety that is hard to match in other
mediums. It's particularly effective in some of
his landscapes.
Mr. Heim's work is winning recognition in
a growing number of galleries across the
country. Early this month it was displayed at
the Glen Gallery in London. There the
reviewer from the London Free Press found
much to admire but chided Mr. Heim for
failing to show a sense of direction in some of
his work and for lack of consistency. She
advised him to leave people out of the
paintings and concentrate on landscapes.
Now what would the artist tell the writer if
he was to review her work?
Books
Kincardine artist's
book finally
appears
It started out to be a book in time for last
year's Christmas season, but instead it's a
possibility for this Christmas's giving to
children.
That's the book called Sammy Sulmouse
6.
GIFTS FOR
THE HOME...
•pictures & wall decorations
•lamps & cushions
•bathroom accessories
•bedspreads, table linens
Trend INTERIORS
151 Main St. W., Listowel