The Citizen, 1991-06-19, Page 31Theatre review
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19,1991. PAGE 31
Ted Johns' aim dead on in comic attack on Tories
BY BONNIE GROPP
A new play by Ted Johns opened
the 17th season of Blyth Festival,
the first under new Artistic Director
Peter Smith, on Thursday, June 13.
Two Brothers is a play about two
sets of very diverse siblings: the
cold Vincent, who in his father's
eyes can do no wrong and his mis
guided brother Gus, who hasn't
done anything right; their father
Fred, the successful businessman,
and his brother Jake, a lonely,
drunken wretch.
The play also features Doctor
Tory, who is the one human being
with the capability of understand
ing the Tory brain. Through his
soliloquy, and the story that
unfolds we are given a bittersweet
look and a rare opportunity to laugh
at the troubled times we are living
in.
A native of Huron County, Ted
Johns is a familiar character to Fes
tival audiences and to the people of
Blyth. He is married to the Festi
val's one-time Artistic Director
Janet Amos, and as a playwright
has had many works produced on
the Blyth stage, the last being the
well-received Garrison's Garage in
1984.
Johns is, in addition to being a
playwright, actor and director, a
teacher, and he has conceived an
intelligent, well-thought-out script.
He has a lot to say and tells a story
that relays information of impor
tance.
But, when your topic is about the
perils Canada is facing there is
obviously a lot of ground to cover,
and Two Brothers was sometimes a
little wordy. However, it also con
tained wonderfully funny moments
that had the audience laughing at
themselves and everyone else. No
one is safe in Johns' script. He
pokes fun at everyone from the
French to the English, from the
easterners to the westerners.
But the principle, and obvious
target of abuse was the Progressive
Conservatives and Johns' aim is
dead-on. The shots taken were
blunt and hold nothing back. His
story is a platform for the anger and
frustration Canadians are feeling.
Besides scripting Two Brothers,
Johns plays the roles of Dr. Tory
and Uncle Jake. Directed by Peter
Smith, these two are exaggerated
portrayals, probably unnecessarily
so. With the solid material they
could likely have gotten away with
less theatrics, particularly Dr. Tory.
The other performers in the play
all put in admirable, though not
outstanding portrayals. Wendy
Noel as Colleen, the mother of Gus
and Vincent is an astute and objec
tive matriarch. John Jarvis as the
boy’s father Fred, like Dr. Tory and
Jake, is a bit of a buffoon, while the
essence of Vince is captured with
sardonic frigidity by Goderich
native Kevin Bundy. And we have
all known a youth like David
Fraser's Gus, trying his best to fit in
and not understanding how.
The symbolic significance of
Pam Johnson's set design could not
go unrecognized. Piled boxes,
stamped with the now almost non
existent words,"Made in Canada"
might have set the lone of the play,
A FULL-THROTTLE BLAST
OF THRILLS AND FUN!"
- SOUIN9 PONI Woven
“IT’S DYNAMITE FUN
FOR THE WHOLE
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but didn't always work well in
some scenes.
The opening crowd was
impressed with Two Brothers and
voiced their enthusiasm by giving it
a standing ovation. Il is the type of
play that Blyth audiences like to
sec, a story about Canada, told
with humour and warmth. Il should
continue to be well-received
throughout its run.
FRI.-THURS.
JUNE 21-27
FRI. & SAT. 7 4 9 PM
SUN.-THURS. 8 PM
E T E E P
The doctor is in
Ted Johns plays the political fix-it man, Dr. Tory in Two
Brothers, the new play written by Johns which premiered at
Blyth Festival on Thursday, June 13.
Brussels man charged
after minor accident
A Brussels man has been charged
following a minor accident at the
corner of Queen and Princess
Streets in Brussels on Saturday
evening.
A spokesperson from the Wing-
ham OPP said that Brian Huelher,
43, of Brussels was driving west on
Queen St. at about 8:40 p.m., when
he turned onto Princess, then turned
back again onto Queen. His 1990
Olds collided with a westbound
1988 Ford pick-up, driven by 37-
year-old Colleen Lamka of Kitch
ener.
Neither driver was injured and
Mr. Huelher has been charged with
failure to yield.
Seaforth Minor Sports
BINGO
EVERY MONDAY NIGHT
7:30 PM Seaforth & Dial rid
Community Centres
^<^42.000 IN PRIZES Plus
SHARE THE WEALTH
The family of Roy & Matilda
Dawson would like to invite
friends, relatives and neigh
bours in the celebration of
their parents' 35th Wedding
Anniversary, at the Wingham
Canadian Legion, June 22,
1991 from 9 pm - 1 am Best
wishes only piease.
MUST GO JACKPOT $750
‘Happy 35tfi
Anniversary
Mary and Maurice
Hallahan
The family of Mary and
Maurice Hallahan invites you
to an Open .House on Sunday,
June 23, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
at their home.
Best Wishes Only Please!
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