HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-04-05, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1989.
Maurice
863 seat
run until
The production starts
Godin as Joey, the handsome but
Jonathan Wittaker, as Mike, Canada’s greatest hockey fan attends a party given by Amanda [Elise Dewsberry, left]
where the head of the CBC’s serious programming department plans to sabotage the Canadian team before its
deciding game against the Soviet Union in “Thin Ice”, the hockey musical comedy that appeared at Memorial Hall
Saturday night. But justice, the Canadian team, and true love wins out as Mike and Cate [Suzanne Bennett, right] find
happiness by the final curtain.
Theatre Review i------------------------------------------1
Grand's 'Pal Joey'
off to Ottawa
The Grand Theatre’s administra- calculating nightclub performer,
tive director, Elaine Calder, has .The Grand’s artistic director,
announced that the hit musical
“Pal Joey” will transfer to Ot
tawa’s National Arts Centre for a
three week run in May. Opening
May 4 in the NAC’s
theatre, “Pal Joey” will
May 20.
Martha Henry, is making a rare
appearance in the London run as
Mrs. Simpson, the wealthy woman
who is “Bewitched, Bothered and
Bewildered” by Joey. Ms. Henry’s
responsibilities as artistic director
prevent her from remaining in the
production past April 8, but she
will direct rehearsals prior to the
Ottawa transfer.
'Thin Ice 7 a of
good things going for it
BY KEITH ROULSTON
When you combine comedy,
music, hockey, two love stories and
lots of shots at the CBC how can
you help but have a popular show.
The audience members at Blyth
Memorial Hall on Saturday night
showed that the Muskoka Festival
production of “Thin Ice” was to
heir liking by hooting and holler-
ng throughout at the jokes and
umping to their feet before the
actors had even taken their first
curtain call.
The show has plenty io cheer
ibout. The story by Jim Botts and
Doug Ellis and the music by Jim
Setts provide 16ts of fun moments.
Mike is a former junior hockey
goaltenders who couldn’t stand the
pressure and so gave up the sport
■xcept for playing on local teams
or fun. He’s the ultimate fan,
however, and a CBC executive
icks him as the nation’s number
ne fan, to act as the assistant
rainer for the Canadian team in
he first ever international Stanley
up Playoff with the Soviet Union.
Neither Mike or the beautiful
reporter who is to follow his
progress from training camp to
final whistle, know that the execu
tive, from the “Serious Programm
ing Department”, is bent on seeing
not only the Canadian team humili-
ted by the Soviets, but see the
oirit of the nation’s greatest fan
roken as well. If hockey can be
destroyed, she says, her serious
ogramming will no longer get
pre-empted for NHL playoff
games.
In the end, of course, justice and
he Canadian team triumphs. Love
also wins out as Mike and Cate, the
eporter, after a long, rocky ro
mance, find each other. Love also
finds Molly, the owner of the bar
where Mike hangs out on Gus, the
Canadian team’s trainer.
The show sports a large cast for a
Louring show with 10 performers
and three musicians. Top talent
makes the show work. Jonathan
Wittaker is perfect as the self
doubting, yet ever-likeable Mike.
Suzanne Bennett as the beautiful
Cate makes it hard to think Mike
could have resisted her until the
final curtain. Elise Dewsberry is
the gorgeous villainess Amanda
from the CBC. Of the others Shane
McPherson probably stands out
most playing the angelic Wayne
Gretzky one moment, the hilarious
butler Wilson the next.
The music provides few tunes
you’ll walk out of the theatre
humming but there are some good
moments. Probably the funniest
song of the night is the opening
number of the second act when the
Soviet hockey team does a number,
complete with amazing choreo
graphy, where they wonder “Why
Do They Keep Inviting Us Back?”,
asking how Canadians can continue
to pay them millions of dollars for
the Soviets to come to Canada and
humiliate us.
If the show has a problem it is
that it takes too many shots in too
many directions, a habit that gives
the show too many styles. The evil
Amanda, the CBC executive is
something out of a turn of the
century melodrama, yet Mike and
Cate’s troubled love affair is totally
realistic. The show seems a musical
play when Mike and Cate or Molly
and Gus are on stage, but an
extended SCTV sketch when the
dumb television announcers Dick
and Danny and other characters are
on stage.
The authors may have missed
the show they could have had but
what they have put on stage
certainly pleases the audience.
BUCK & DOE
for
Lyle Hood
and
Doris Glanville
SATURDAY
APRIL 8
For More Information Call
527-1484 or
887-6650 ■■
Change of OwnershipTHE BENMILLER
★
★
GAMES OF CHANCE
from 8:00 p.m. - 1 a.m.
EUCHRE TOURNAMENT
at 8:30 p.m.
LUNCH PROVIDED
I would like to express my thanks to my
customers for their patronage during my years
in business. 1 hope you will continue by
supporting Christine McGrath, the owner of
Christine's Clothes Closet.
(Admittance restricted
to persons 19 years
of age or older)
PROCEEDS will be used
for improvement to the
baseball diamond
For further information,
cal1 524-4517
Many Thanks,
Shirley Walker.
Shirley's House
of Fashion
FORESTERS
are hosting a
"CASINO
NIGHT"
SATURDAY, APRIL 15
at the Foresters Hall, Benmiller
LUCKNOW & DISTRICT
LIONS CLUB
Dabber
Bingo
Lucknow Community Centre
Sunday, April 9/89
(and Every Sunday Night)
Potential Prize Board $3,000
Jackpot on 54 Calls $1,000
$500. Must Go
Hall opens at 6:30 p.m.
Bingo starts at 7:15 p.m.
220 Josephine St., Wingham 357-1051
PS. The Flower Nook continues business as usual.
Robert McIntyre, Reg. O.H.A.A.
Hearing Aid Specialist
will be holding a
HEARING AID SERVICE CENTRE
on
WEDNESDAY, APRIL12
AT74THESQUARE, GODERICH
PHONE524-7661 FOR APPOINTMENT
THURSDAY, APRIL 13
ATMEDICAL ARTS BLDG.
JOHNST.,WINGHAM
PHONE357-2111 FOR APPOINTMENT
If your present hearing aid needs service
or you are thinking of purchasing a hearing aid
CALL TODAY
McIntyre hearing aid
SERVICE
275 HURON ST., STRATFORD