HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-06-21, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1989.
Entertainment Mamas & Papas at Playhouse
Atomic wit
Bewildered PersephoneTownship Reeve Eldon Currie (Jerry Franken, centre) finds himself getting
dressed in radiation clothing under the instruction of the Premier’s executive assistant T.J.
Swimwell (PatriciaVanstone, left) while his bemused brother Orval (Garrison Chrisjohn) watches in
a scene from “Perils of Persephone’’ which opened at the Blyth Festival Friday night. The play is a
comedy about what happens when a truck, thought to be carrying nuclear waste, goes off the road in a
rural township.
Theatre review
Blyth ‘Perils’ a comic delight
BY BONNIE GROPP
Never have government and
beauracracy been so much fun!
Dan Needles’ “The Perils of Perse
phone’’, which opened in BJyth on
Friday is a delightful comic play
that had the capacity crowd enter
tained throughout. With sardonic
wit the playwright gave us the
opportunity to laugh at the foibles
of government and society.
The setting takes place in June in
the Currie family kitchen in Perse
phone Township. Eldon Currie, the
township Reeve is seeking fame
and glory as the new County
Warden. However, after nuclear
waste is dumped on his farm and
he butts heads with scheming
government officials he gets a little
more than he bargained for.
The characters of the play are
stereotypes who could have quite
easily been overdone. But, under
Douglas Beattie’s fine direction
they came to life as only slightly
exaggerated personalities.
Jerry Franken as Eldon Currie
the beleaguered, befuddled town
ship politico gives an accurate
portrayal of political naivete. A role
that could have been a caricature,
he adds depth to. On one hand he is
strong and confident and a little
vain, yet, when faced with bigger
issues, Franken effectively makes
the transition to an overwhelmed,
and confused farmer, whose
strength lies in his family and
hometown loyalties.
Diana Belshaw gives a solid
performance as Currie’s wife,
Marj. She is strong and capable,
sensitive and caring; the epitome of
the perfect wife.
Garrison Chrisjohn, as Eldon’s
brother Orval, has some of the best
comic lines in the play. His
sensible, uncomplicated outlook is
touched with cynical humour,
which added together, provides
hilarious results. His delivery and
timing are perfect.
The fated politician, who is
played by Greg Ellwand, also
provides some of the lighter mo
ments of “Perils’’. All the negative
things you’ve heard about politi
cians, you see in Ellwand’s Hank
Hornspoon M.P.P.
Patrician Vanstone, who receiv
ed a Dora nomination for “Girls in
the Gang’’, gives a suitable por
trayal of the emanicpated T.J.
Swimwell, Executive Assistant to
the Premier. Ms. Vanstone seems
to be comfortable playing the cold,
classy type and in Perils she
manages to take the edge off a
character who could have been
thoroughly detestable.
K. Reed Needles as Hinkley, the
junkie trucker and Ann Baggley as
Wendy, the Currie’s daughter,
each put in fine performances.
Special commendation should go
to Katherine Kaszas, the Festival’s
Artistic Director, for a captivating
opening night selection “Perils of
Persephone”. It provides the audi
ence with the chance to laugh at
others and ourselves - frequently.
Actually, the only thing that
really bothered me about the play
were two rather disparaging com
ments made about the press. I
couldn’t understand it!
Perils of Persephone is being
performed at the Blyth Festival
right through until the first week of
September. I highly recommend it.
Huron Country Playhouse con
tinues to deliver outstanding Sun
day concerts this season, welcom
ing the current edition of the
legendary vocal group, The Mamas
And The Papas.
The Mamas And The Papas, led
by its founder John Phillips, will
take the main stage on Sunday,
July 9 for two shows only at 4 p.m.
and 7 p.m. The legendary group
first exploded on the music scene in
1966 with the smash hit “California
Dreamin”, quickly followed during
the next year and a half by other
chart successes such as “Monday,
Monday”, “I Saw Her Again”,
“Look Through My Window”,
“Words Of Love”, “Creeque Al
ley”, and “Twelve Thirty”, all
songs written and arranged by
John Phillips.
The original Papas were John
Phillips and. Canadian Denny
Doherty. The original Mamas were
Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot.
John and new Mamas, Spanky
McFarlane and Mackenzie Phillips,
have been joined by Scott McKen
zie.
All the members of the new
Mamas And The Papas have
enjoyed much success in the world
of entertainment. John’s daughter,
Mackenzie grew up in The Mamas
And The Papa’s rehearsal sessions,
recording studios and on the con
cert trail. At the age of 12, while
performing with her school’s rock
’n’ roll band she was spotted by a
casting director whose interest led
to a starring role in “American
Graffiti”. This was followed by a
successful TV series, “One Day At
A Time”, where she played Julie
Cooper for five seasons.
Mama number 2, Spanky McFar
lane was responsible for forming
the music group Spanky And Our
Gang, who climbed the charts with
a selection of hits including “Sun
day Will Never Be The Same”,
“Making Every Minute Count”.
“Lazy Day” and “Like To Get To
Know You”. Spanky, a good friend
of original Mama Cass Elliot,
began her musical career as part of
the Chicago blues scene.
Papas John Phillips and Scott
McKenzie performed together in
The Journeymen from 1961 to
1963. In 1976, Scott McKenzie
released the hit single “San Fran
cisco - Wear Flowers In Your
Hair”. This song,, which was
written by John Phillips and backed
up by the Mamas And The Papas
session band was an instant smash
and catapulted Scott McKenzie to
the forefront of the flower children.
In February 1987 John was
designated honorary chairman of
the ‘Monterey Film Festival in
recognition of his contributions to
the film “Monterey Pop” and the
Monterey Pop Festival.
About The Mamas And Papas
today, John has this to say - “It’s
uncanny. The sound is so similar to
the early days. I’m really enjoying
singing with women again because
there’s so much more you can do
with the vocal arrangements.
When the harmonies really start to
work”, explains John, “we get a
special tone like a fifth voice.
We’ve nicknamed it ‘Harvey’. All I
can tell you about the music is that
Harvey is showing up a lot ihese
days.”
Tickets and information can be
obtained by calling the Playhouse
box office at 238-8451.
25t^ 'WeddMa
PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA
The Rhinestone Cowboy
BILL & FRAN
From Family & Friends
THURS., FRI., SAT.
5P.M.-12A.M.
BLYTH INN
EAT IN OR TAKE OUT
523 9381
The Family invites
you to Brussels for the
Anniversary of
ORVAL AND RUTH BAUER
Friday, June 23,1989
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
BRUSSELS LIONS
ELIMINATION DRAW
OVER $5,000.
IN CASH TO BE DRAWN
WINNERS OF EARLY BIRD DRAWS
June3-Dave&Lynda Williams
June10-Max Demaray
June 17 - Allen Bridge
Saturday June 24th
MEALSERVED 6-8
DANCE 9-1
AT B.M. & G.
COMMUNITY CENTRE
TICKETS $30.00 EACH
Available from any Lions member