HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-06-07, Page 23Entertainment
Veteran actor takes new challenge
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1989. PAGE 23.
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Introducing.
BY BONNIE GROPP
Peter Smith is the Associate Artistic Director of the Blyth
Festival for this season, Peter, along with his wife will act in
Bryan Wade’s play “The Right One’’ premiering on July 5.
Peterwillalsobeinchargeof the Youth Company this summer.
Peter Smith is no stranger to
Blyth Festival. With four seasons
here already under his belt he
definitely is considered one of the
family.
This year, however, Mr. Smith is
returning not only as an actbr but
as this season’s associated artistic
director.
Born in Barrie, Mr. Smith stud
ied at Brock University then receiv
ed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in
Theatre from the University of
Victoria. He attended the Banff
Master Class in 1982, where he met
his wife, actress Laurel Paetz. Mr.
Smith has been working profes
sionally since 1980, but has just,
in the last couple of years, moved
onto directing. He has been assis
tant director in Winnipeg and Blyth
and will be directing a show this
coming season in Calgary, which is
the city that he, Laurel and the
couple’s young son Matthew cur
rently call home.
However, as associate artistic
director, Mr. Smith explains that
the job varies from one theatre to
another and frequently the associ
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ate may never even direct a play.
Prior to beginning in Blyth he
devised an outline of what he hopes
to achieve and what he needs to
understand about his duties. It is
his desire,to gain experience by
watching Katherine Kaszas, the
Festival’s Artistic Director, and the
directors she has hired. He be
lieves that discussions on problem
solving over what he referred to as
“directorial quagmires” will be
useful for everyone and himself to
gain incite into each other’s philo
sophies and feelings for directing.
For this season, however, with
the arrival of Ms. Kaszas’ new
infant, Mr. Smith has been thrust
headfirst into the administrative
aspects of the theatre. This is a new
experience for him. He must look
after such things as dealing with
the board and production manager
to auditioning, housing, and set
financing. He is required to travel
to Toronto for “call-back” audi
tions as well. Mr. Smith states that
though this has been somehwat
challenging he is enjoying it. He
likened it to ‘trial by fire’ saying
that you put yourself against one
thing and when that’s accomplish
ed, move on to the next. Taking
new challenges one step at a time
he believes you can overcome them
more easily. He does not like
challenges to be looked upon as
obstacles saying he tries to take a
positive approach to things as
apposed to a negative one.
In addition to his behind-the-
scenes duties, Peter will be appear
ing on stage. He and his wife
Laurel, will be playing opposite
each other in Bryan Wade’s “The'
Right One” which premieres on
Wednesday, July 5. This is not the
first time the couple has worked
together having once done three or
four plays back-to-back. It is how
ever, the first time in a long time.
Mr. Smith says that working with
his wife is really not any different
than working with any other
actress, though he adds it is “great
to work with her.” “We are
professionals,” he explains, “and
each of us had a different ap
proach. While Laurel’s method on
any project is exciting I don’t think
working together makes it any
more or less electric. We’re doing
our job.”
Mr. Smith will also be in charge
of this summer’s drama programs
at the Festival which are geared for
students aged 5 to 20. His interest
in children and their wonderful
imaginations are the key aspects
involved in the workshops. “I
would like to make them better
story tellers,” he states. Perhaps
his inspiration comes from four
year old Matthew. “I like to look at
him when he’s dealing with reality
and illusion; to see the place he’s
at,” Smith explains. “Too often we
are quick to not listen to our
children and what they are saying
because it doesn’t really seem like
they’re in this world. But their
world is real and what they can
stimulate through thought is fasci
nating.” Smith hopes to teach
children to believe in what they’re
saying, believing they will then
emote confidence into their story.
“If you have a passion for some
thing, people will listen,” said
Smith.
Together, with Ms. Kaszas, Mr.
Smith has several other plans for
the future that already have “the
wheels in motion.” He maintains
that they are still pretty loose but
hopes to keep coming up with ideas
every year for the Blyth Festival.
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