HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-05-19, Page 19JUST DEUX IT.
HOT
SHOTS!
PART DEUX
FRI-THU RS MAY 21-27
FRI & SAT 7 & 9 p.m.
SUN.-THURS. 8 pm
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1993. PAGE 19.
E ntertainment
Stratford Express ready
to roll out of the station
For the ninth consecutive
Festival season, the Stratford
Express is ready to roll. This year,
the black tie extravaganza begins at
3 p.m. on Saturday, May 29 with a
reception at Toronto's Union
Station. Passengers board a
specially-decorated, private
Stratford-bound train, and spend
two fun-filled hours indulging in
fine wines and a gourmet supper
prepared by Avant-Gout Fine
Foods. Once in Stratford, guests are
whisked to the Festival Theatre for
a 7:30 performance of the Stephen
Sondheim-Jule Styne musical fable
Gypsy.
One of Broadway's most
enduring hits, based on the
memoirs of legendary striptease
artist Gypsy Rose Lee, Gypsy is
directed and choreographed by
Stratford's resident musical genius
Brian Macdonald. The Festival
production features Sandra O'Neill
as Rose (the stage mother to end all
stage mothers), Liz Gilroy and
Monique Lund as her daughters —
the multi-talented and gregarious
June and the shy, reluctant Louise
(who is ultimately transformed into
the glamourous Gypsy), and Peter
Get set for laughter as the
incomparable Rod Beattie returns
to The Grand Theatre in three
hilarious one-man comedies: Letter
from Wingfield Farm, Wingfield's
Progress and Wingfield's Folly,
that together comprise The
Wingfield Trilogy. Written by Dan
Needles and directed by Douglas
Beattie, The Wingfield Trilogy is
designed by John Thompson with
lighting designed by Louise
Guinand.
Thousands upon thousands of
people from coast to coast have
roared with laughter at these tales
of the Bay Street stockbrocker-
turned-gentleman-farmer, who
chronicles his comical
misadventures in a series of letters
to the editor of a local newspaper.
In this one-man tour-de-force, Rod
Beattie not only brings the loveable
Walt Wingfield to life, but he also
creates a multitude of colourfully
eccentric characters. Mr. Beattie's
abilities were recognized in
Toronto with the 1992 Dora Award
for Best Actor.
- In Letter from Wingfield Farm,
stock-broker Walt Wingfield trades
in his pinstripes for farmers'
overalls as he searches for a
simpler way of life in the country.
But life as a gentleman farmer is
anything but simple! As he
struggles to get back to the land,
his neighbours are entertained with
Walt's naive approach to rural
living.
In Wingfield's Progress, Walt is
presented with yet another new
challenge as he takes on urban
developers who wish to invade the
unspoiled countryside of
Persephone Township with plans to
build condominiums. In a heroic
attempt to fight back, Walt
assembles an unconventional
`army' to combat the city-slickers.
Finally, in Wingfield's Folly,
after two profit-free seasons, Walt
hatches a plan to ease the economic
hardships of Persephone Town-
ship's residents. His best-laid plans
go awry and Walt is threatened
with the loss of his beloved farm
and newfound way of life. In the
end, as the neighbours rally around
Donaldson as Rose's beleaguered
paramour Herbie. Filled with
classic Broadway tunes, the score
for Gypsy includes such gems as
"Everything's Coming Up Roses",
"Small World", "All I Need Is The
Girl" and "Let Me Entertain You."
After the performance, guests re-
board the Express and travel back
to Toronto, enjoying desserts,
liqueurs and on-board entertain-
ment amidst a not-so-silent silent
auction.
In keeping with the play, the train
will be decorated in a vintage
vaudeville and burlesque theme,
complete with tassels, trunks, hat
boxes, stage curtains, faux jewels
and black lace fans.
Co-chaired by Michael Batterbee
and Margaret MacLellan, and
organized by more than 40
volunteers, this magical event is
sponsored (for the sixth
consecutive year) by Allied-Lyons
PLC and the company's wine and
spirits sector, The Hiram Walker
Group.
Tickets for the Stratford Express
are $300 each, and are available
through the Festival's Special Events
Associate Tenny Nigoghossian at
(416) 968-3102.
him, Walt learns the true value of
country life — friendship, loyalty,
and love!
The Wingfield Trilogy runs May
25 through June 12.
Prices range from $19 to $34. A
special 3-play discount package is
available. Twelve dollar rush seats,
subject to availability, are on sale
for Monday through Thursday
evening performances and for
Saturday matinees. Rush tickets are
available two hours prior to
performance time on day of
performance in person only.
Students and seniors with
identification may purchase $12
rush tickets from 10 a.m. on the
day of performance.
For ticket information, please
visit The Grand Theatre Box Office
at 471 Richmond Street or call 519-
672-8800. Toll free from area code
519 at 1-800-265-1593.
Dancers warm-up
Local dancers will be performing
in the Listowel School of Dance's
spring recital, Cascade of Countries
May 28 and 29 at the Listowel Dis-
trict Secondary School. Admission
is free.
The recital marks the end of the
dance school's season. It features
students of classical ballet and
modem theatre dance.
If anyone is interested in joining
the school, this is the perfect oppor-
tunity to see the dancers in perfor-
mance.
Students are already excited
about classes beginning in the fall.
Preparations are underway for the
Christmas and spring demonstra-
tions.
DANCE
Sunday, May 23rd
Blyth Free
Agents
For more Information
call Dean at
523-4525
Wingfield returns to Grand
Making moves
Blyth resident Jayne Marquis leads a group of girls through the dance steps she
choreographed for the Blyth and area play, 'Many Hands'. The modern dances, of which there
are four the group is practicing, will represent evil vs. good, flax, the sea and a storm.
`Players' go through paces
By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot
The Blyth and area play, 'Many
Hands', has residents doing many
things they never attempted before,
including modern dance.
For several Blyth-area girls, the
play gave them the chance to learn
and perform modern dance under
the direction of Jayne Marquis who
choreographed the moves.
"What's neat is that the girls
haven't had a lot of dance but by
being in the play, they are getting
exposed to what they never have
before," said Mrs. Marquis from
the basement of the Blyth Christian
Reformed Church where the troupe
practices two to three times per
week.
She said the ensemble is working
on four dances, each about one
minute long. They incorporate
modem movement and Mrs. Mar-
quis said she is teaching the stu-
dents to feel the dance, not to
perform precise ballet-type move-
ments.
The four dances are to represent
the sea, flax, a storm and the battle
of good versus evil.
Mrs. Marquis volunteered to
teach the girls as a way to be
involved in the community play.
She studied dance for four years at
University.
In all, there are 12 girls in the
ensemble including the ones who
were practicing May 11. They are:
Maridale Bromley, Karin and
Sabine Schroecker, Kerry Halla-
han, Joanne Josling, Erin Roulston,
Lee Ann Riley and Kristy Blair.
ENTER THE RUTABAGA PARADE
on Saturday, June 26 at 11 a.m.
(Just complete this form and drop it off at
The Citizen office to register)
Name
Club/Business
Address
Telephone
Type of Entry
Parade Categories:
• Best overall • Best Comedy
• Best use of a Rutabaga • Best Imagination
• Best Individual • Best Business
• Best Agricultural • Best Municipal
• Best Church • Best School
• Best Youth (16 - 25) • And Best Bicycle
Judging takes place at 10 a.m.
— before the Parade. Lots of Prizes
LONG DISTANC ? CALL 1-800-255-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO
Reserve your space today at the
RUTABAGA
FESTIVAL FLEA MARKET
10' x 10' space — $10.00
For more information
call Sheron Stadelmann at 523-9204