HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-03-25, Page 23Entertainment
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25,1992. PAGE 23.
Kids' show entertaining
Theatre review
Stars make the show at Grand
Ghost story
Dan Lett as the Actor and Michael Polley as Kipps set the
stage for suspense and ghostly thrills in this scene from
Stephen Mallatratt’s stage adaptation of Susan Hill's novel
The Woman In Black, which opened at The Grand
Mainstage on March 20. The play runs until April 11.
BY BONNIE GROPP
Outstanding performances by the
two male actors in The Grand The
atre's production of Stephen Malla-
tratt's stage adaptation of Susan
Hill's novel A Lady in Black turn
what could be a lacklustre play into
an interesting, though sometimes
predictable chiller.
In the story, which is directed by
Derek Goldby, we have an English
solicitor named Kipps, played by
Michael Polley, who rents an old
theatre so he can "renew his
acquaintance with mortal dread in
the hopes of exorcising the terror
from his life.
He hires a young actor, per
formed by Dan Lett, to help him
bring his story to life, but when the
actor is unable to bring Kipps’ per
formance alive, they switch roles.
As the ghostly tale of the woman in
black unfolds, Kipps takes us
through a series of many frighten
ing events until we arrive at what is
Happy 25th
Anniversary
Mom & Dad
(Pete & Helen Albers)
March 31st
Love, from Ann Marie,
Marlene & Dean, Patricia &
Chris, Pete & Paul
to be a chilling twist at the story's
end. The twist, however, came as
no surprise; I had quite figured it
out by the end.
For those who love a good ghost
story, there are some moments of
exciting gothic horror, however,sit
ting in a theatre full of hundreds of
people definitely takes the edge off
what may have been an absolutely
terrifying novel. I am easily fright
ened - television's Unsolved Mys
teries I don't care to watch alone -
but while the action made me a lit
tle tense, it was not the spine chill
ing terror that fables like this
typically evoke in me.
When the hair on the back of my
neck came even close to rising, it
was due to the solid, realistic per
formances of Lett and Polley. Lett,
Happy 6th Birthday
March 30
Brendan Pierce
Love
Mom, Dad, Jennifer,
Gramma & Paul
was particularly spellbinding as he
made the transformation from
slightly arrogant artist to a fright
ened, tortured man.
Polley, appearing at The Grand
for the first time, was equally
impressive. When Lett takes over
the role of Kipps for the purpose of
telling the story, Polley switches
from role to role with ease.
One cannot, of course, forget the
woman in black, portrayed by Katia
de Pena. Ms de Pena is a familiar
face to Blyth audiences having
appeared in several productions
over the years, but you will not rec
ognize her here. She is a disgusting
creature, who stirs up unsettling
feelings of malevolence in the easi
ly unsettled. Not appearing until
well into the first act, I found
myself anxious to see the dark lady,
yet after she appeared, I did not
look forward to her re-appearance.
Little more than a walk-on part, I
have seen Ms. Pena's many talents
put to better use, however.
Designer Phillip Silver, shows
how a little can go a long way, with
his minimal props effective lighting
by assistant lighting designer
Heather Sherman.
With the gripping performances,
stark setting and eery imagery, A
Woman in Black sometimes suc
ceeds in its attempt to be a terrify
ing ghost story. But more often it
misses its mark.
Perhaps the task is too difficult as
Kipps points out early in the script.
"The telling of ghost stories is a
harmless sport. The truth is quite
ugly and altogether more terrible."
PITCH-IN
WEEK
MAY 4-10
Happy 100th
Birthday
(Charlotte Bell)
From all your family
You are invited to an
"Open House"
in Huronview Auditorium on
Sunday March 29 from 2 - 4 in
honor of our mother.
Best Wishes Only.
BY NICKI GROPP
Canadian Content Theatre's On
The Go was an entertaining, hour-
long mix of song, dance and mime,
which appealed to both young and
old who attended the performance
on Saturday, Marcn 21 at Blyth
Memorial Hall.
This third production in Blyth
Centre for the Arts’ “Just For Kids”
series, featured the talents of three
female performers. Heidi Hunter
performed in mime, Judy Cook was
the dancer, and Cathy Nosaty per
formed musically. All three
formerly worked separately for
Winnipeg's Artists in the Schools
program. They have now been
together for six years and all agree
that performing for children is the
best.
By combining music, dance, and
mime, these artists have created an
original and enjoyable show. Cana
dian Content performs in many
schools and communities and is a
hit in them all.
At the Saturday's matinee, the
three performers caught everyone's
attention right away with their
energetic first appearance; That
energy lasted throughout the entire
show; and their colourful costumes.
Each performer looked different
from the others even though their
costumes were almost the same as
the vests they wore were different
colours for each. They all had the
same style of shoe, however each
performer had her own colour.
Their pants and shirts were all dif
ferent with their own colours as
well.
There was plenty of audience
participation, which started as just
clapping and ended with an
audience air band where everyone
was up out of their chair pretending
to play the diums, guitar, piano or
be dancers. The air band effects
were even better with the synthe
sizer that actually made the’sounds
of all the instruments. Il made
many of the children giggle and
25th Wedding
Anniversary
The family of Ken and
Anne Williamson wish
to invite friends, rela
tives and neighbours to
a dance in honour of
their parents' 25th
Wedding Anniversary
on Friday, March 27,
1992 from 9 p.m. to 1
a.m. at Brussels, Morris
and Grey Community
Centre. Best Wishes
Only.
PARK THEATRE
some look around for the sounds
they were hearing.
As well as great music, dancing
and mime, th® show also had the
audience laughing from the begin
ning to the end. During one of the
mime performances a little child
was brought up onto the stage
where she was pretending to shoot
an arrow al a balloon. The mime
continued and showed the audience
that the child did finally break the
balloon, after shooting the per
former in the face, and having the
arrow fall at her feet. This made
the audience and the child on stage
laugh.
The performances was very well
done from the beginning to the end
and had the audience’s attention
throughout from beginning to end.
dhappy 11th
(Birthday
Julie Verburg
Love Mom & Dad
the
Blyth Iw
5239381
THURSDAY NIGHT IS
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5 P.M. - MIDNIGHT
WINGS 35® EACH
MINIMUM ORDER 10
a variety of sauces available
Wings available for take out at
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