HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-11-18, Page 19E ntertainment
Blyth spirit part of play
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18,1992. PAGE 19.
Walton UCW holds
general meeting
Compiling history
Dale Hamilton has been doggedly gathering material to be
used in the Blyth Community Play set to open the
Festival's 1993 season. The production, which will run for
12 performances, will be a story about Blyth and its
surrounding area, its people and history.
By Bonnie Gropp
It's theatre not just for the sake of
theatre, but for a sense of commu
nity rejuvenation.
This is the sentiment expressed
by Dale Hamilton, researcher and
playwright for the Blyth Communi
ty play, which is set to open the
1993 Blyth Festival season.
For the past several weeks, Ms
Hamilton has been in a state of per
petual motion hopping back and
forth from Eramosa Township,
where she is serving her first term
as municipal councillor, to Blyth,
where she is conducting interviews
and researching.
From the information she and a
research team of 10 local people
are compiling, Ms Hamilton is
working on a script about Blyth
and district, its people and its histo
ry-
The work is going very well. She
has presently filled 20 cassette
tapes with interviews and has a
huge file full of material. On her
computer at home there are some
scene outlines for the research team
to offer feedback for editing or dis
carding.
The idea of the community play
began over a year ago. Blyth Festi
val Artistic Director Peter Smith
and then Associate Artistic Director
Bill Dow approached Ms Hamilton
regarding another script she had
penned. So excited was she by the
community play she had written for
Eramosa Township, a rural munici
pality just east of Rockwood
between Guelph and Acton, that
she sent it along for their considera
tion as well, she said.
Ms Hamilton's interest in this
type of production came about after
she heard of the similar work being
done in England by Jon Oram, then
Artistic Director of Colway Theatre
Trust. She visitedMr. Oram and
learned from him. He in turn came
to help her with the Eramosa pro
ject and will be directing the Blyth
production.
One of the benefits of this type of
play is what it does for the people
of the community, says Ms Hamil
ton. "Mr. Smith felt it held the
potential for improving communi
cations between Blyth Festival and
the community. Ms Hamilton notes
that it "gets the community going.
It gives them a challenge to work
on together." Eramosa, she says, is
still feeling the positive repercus
sions two years after the play pre
miered.
That seems to be the focus
emerging from the material for the
Blyth play, said Ms Hamilton —
the community. There is communi
ty involvement and ownership of
the play. Interestingly, the one pat
tern that seems to be recurring in
her interviews, is the idea of co
operation between neighbours, sim
ilar to the days of the pioneer,
which still exists in this rural com
munity today.
She stresses that, while she is the
one dramatising and putting struc
ture to the ideas, it is very much a
community project. "It is a differ
ent approach to theatre," she says,
one that has spoilt her for other
kinds.
Casting, she says, is inclusive —
anyone who wants to be part of the
production will be part of the pro
duction. Though there will be a
small professional team involved,
the actors and backstage people
will be community volunteers tak
ing their shot in the limelight. The
competitiveness typical of other
theatrical productions is not in evi
dence here, notes Ms Hamilton.
"That doesn't fit the goals."
Once the script is written, Dale
and Jon will have the monumental
task of co-ordinating the cast and
crew. "It is a massive task for us."
says Ms Hamilton. As this produc
tion is staffed by lay people, who,
unlike professionals, will often
have other careers or commitments,
schedules have to be arranged to
suit everyone. Ms Hamilton says,
however, that while there is some
time commitment the schedule is
"very flexible".
"People can give us an hour a
week or their lives if they want. We
try to cast accordingly", she says,
adding, "Because Jon has done it so
many times before most of the bugs
are ironed out."
The last couple of weeks, howev
er, production dates are intense and
focused.
Also adding to the uniqueness of
the production is the fact that it will
be staged in the Hubbard Rutabaga
storage bams. The sense of com
munity this exemplifies is just one
of three reasons for choosing this
venue, according to Ms Hamilton.
Another, she says, is that the scope
of the play is too large for the Blyth
Festival stage. One hundred and
twenty people were involved in the
Eramosa production and she
expects no less for the Blyth one.
Finally, the play is done prome
nade style, meaning the audience
walks from stage to stage around
the parameter of the building. How
ever, she adds, those who are phys
ically challenged or prefer to sit
will be made comfortable. What the
homey theatre will lack in preten
tion it will make up for in charm.
For now, Dale will continue to
gather tales of Blyth and area,
which thus far have included a
turn-of-the-century clairvoyant,
branded as a witch. A community
play office has been set up in the
theatre's box office for people inter
ested in helping out or with names
or stories to share. The hours are
Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
Wednesday and Thursday from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. It is co-ordinated by
Fran Cook and Karen Stewart of
Blyth.
Ms Hamilton says she is still
looking for input from the people
of the community. The deadline is
projected for the end of November,
however, she says that if a good
story came in at the middle of Jan
uary it could still be included. With
the input she has received to date,
she has no concerns about a lack of
material.
A New
Spirit of
Giving
The United Church Women of
Duff's Church met for their
November meeting in the church
basement on Wednesday evening.
The Remembrance Day service
was opened by Marion Godkin. “O
God of Love, O King of Peace”
was sung, accompanied by Edith
Wey at the piano. Melva Fraser
read the scripture lesson. Marion
read an article on, “What ever
happened to all the simple things?”
The offering was received by
Leona McDonald and dedicated by
Melva. The hymn, “Dear Lord and
Father of Mankind” was sung.
Margaret Craig read a poem, “Why
Wear a Poppy!”.
Gloria Wilbee introduced the
guest speaker, Pat Young from
Mitchell, who told of her
experience at the Westminster
weekend. It is a U.C.W. sponsored
event and she gave members much
food for thought. She showed a few
slides of their activities and the
group sessions they had during the
weekend. Heidi McClure thanked
the guest for her interesting
message.
A hymn and prayer closed the
devotions.
Marie McGavin presided for the
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business opening with a poem “For
Remembrance.” Minutes were
approved as read by Doreen
Hackwell. Twenty ladies answered
the roll call with a verse containing
the word “Peace”.
Correspondence was dealt with
and Marie thanked everyone who
had helped at the fowl supper last
week. Leona gave the treasurer's
report.
Announcements were given of
coming events. Choir practice is to
be held on Monday evenings. A
Christmas Eve service is being
planned to be held at Duff's
Church. The White Gift service
will be Dec. 13 in the church
basement at 10 a.m. presented by
the Sunday School.
It was moved that the December
Christmas meeting would be
changed to the second Wednesday
evening as the church directory
pictures are scheduled for Dec. 2-3.
It will begin with a pot luck supper
at 6:30 p.m. Please bring an article
for the Friendship House in
Goderich. Committee reports were
given.
Marie closed the meeting with
prayer. Grace was sung followed
by a social time with refreshments.
Must Now Fight To-Save It.
THE LAST RAINFOREST