HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-06-16, Page 2350th Wedding
Anniversary
Bruce and Doris McCall
extend a cordial invitation
to all their friends to
celebrate with them and
their family on this very
special occasion of their
50th Anniversary on
Friday, June 18 at the
Brussels Community
Centre.
Reception at 7:30 and
dance at 9:00 to the Royal
Aires.
Best Wishes only please.
/ lobjek y
E ntertainment
Setting the scene
While Mike McManus and Laurel Paetz run through a scene during rehearsals for Ceili House
set to open at Blyth Festival June 25, playwright Colleen Curran, at the table, extreme left,
and director Patricia Vanstone beside her play close attention.
`Ceili House'
Mystery unfolds in garden
lids*
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UAA
BLYTH V FESTIVAL
presents
Ceili House
World Premiere
Colleen Curran, one of Blyth's best loved writers, and the author of
such hits as Cake Walk and Local Talent returns. Freya Brady is the
young woman hired as the curator in charge of turning a very old home
into a museum to honour the famous Canadian author who 1 ived there.
Her seemingly simple task is turned into an hilarious misadventure by
a cast of eccentric characters including an opera singing gardener, a
retired teacher who is a practising druid, a meddling socialite, and a
business-man-turned suitor who all conspire to drive the play to its
surprising conclusion.
Opening June 25
Reserved tickets via the Blyth Festival Box Office
BOX OFFICE (519)523-9300
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1993. PAGE 23.
Happy Birthday
The Big 60
Theatre review
`Many Hands' a unique experience
By Janice Becker
The presentation of Many Hands,
a Blyth and District Community
Play, was a very unique theatre
experience.
Having had little previous con-
tact with the theatre (except Shake-
spear), I was not sure what to
expect.
The event was delightful, fasci-
nating and even educational. The
innovative presentation was strik-
ing. When one considers the cast
of over 130 people consisted of
mostly amateur volunteers, the co-
ordination necessary for such a pro-
duction seems phenomenal to the
uninitiated.
My husband, myself and our
young son attended the opening
night performance, which began
with a reading of the names from
the War Memorial.
Following this tribute, a proces-
sion led the good-sized crowd
towards the old Rutabaga Factory,
in which the play was staged.
Along the route, the townspeople
presented glimpses of the lives of
"any person", throughout time.
As the playwright Dale Hamilton
states, the Roots, the central figures
of the play, are a "fictitious com-
posite family". They are to "repre-
sent Every Family, particularly
farm families, whose roots run deep
in rural Ontario."
Upon arrival at the theatre, the
audience was greeted by the cast
members, by handshakes and hel-
los. The gesture helped to create
the sense of community, a theme
on which the entire play was based.
By the use of six stages, mobile
performances and spot lighting, the
audience was given a look at family
life, from the 1890s to the present.
The Root's family and friends, were
shown in both good times and bad.
For both the young and the old, I
would recommend seeing this pro-
duction by the Blyth and District
Community Theatre. It is both
entertaining and a great lesson in
history.
To fully appreciate all the effects
and various stages for the perfor-
mance, it is best to be prepared to
stand for the three hour duration,
on the factory floor. Although
chairs were provided, it was much
easier to see and hear all the action
by moving with the performers.
Many Hands runs until Saturday,
June 19.
2c,?.r;2'8Q_A
'1[47171
ANNUAL
GENERAL
MEETING
Tuesday,
June 22, 7:00 p.m.
Clinton Town Hail
Speaker from:
Ontario Association of
Credit Counselling Services
Annual Reports Available
from Women Today
Office
Beginning June 18, 1993.
Only a real interest in
women's issues is needed.
482-9706
1-800-268-3094
P.O. Box 1405
56 Huron Street,
Clinton, Ontario
By Bonnie Gropp
Playwright Colleen Curran has
proven herself to Blyth audiences.
With hits like Cake Walk, Local
Talent and Miss Balmoral of the
Bayview she has earned a reputa-
tion for bringing to the stage, like-
able, eccentric characters in
light-hearted, entertaining stories.
People can expect nothing less
with her new play, Ceili House
opening June 25 at Blyth Festival.
"It has lots of comedy and
romance," says Ms Curran.
"And of course, some wonderful,
zany people," said Patricia Van-
stone, theplay's director, who is
herself, no stranger on the Blyth
stage.
Ms Vanstone notes, however,
that unlike the other Curran works,
Ceili House has an element of mys-
tery.
Ms Curran agrees. "A friend of
mine described it as lots of boxes
with secrets being revealed
throughout the story. My other
plays had all the information right
out front," she said.
The story of Freya Brady, a
young woman hired as the curator
in charge of turning a very old
home into a museum was two years
in the making. Its inspiration came
from a lot of things, said Ms Cur-
ran, but primarily it comes from the
importance of literature and cul-
ture. "Protecting what we have is
precious. That's the message of this
play."
In the case of Freya it's also
about self discovery, the pair says.
The set design adds to the overall
theme. "When the characters arrive
in the garden it's a mess but it's
later restored, which mirrors the
progress of the play," said Ms Van-
stone. "It's about bringing back the
magic."
"Ceili House was once an Irish
Druid home; a place of liveliness,
but it's lost all that," said Ms Cur-
ran.
"The message though is that
things can be neglected, but the
jewel is still there," said Ms Van-
stone.
The cast assembled to bring the
special Curran characters to life is
familiar to the eccentricities. Actors
Anne Anglin, Laurel Paetz and
Clair Crawford were all in Cake
Walk, while Kevin Bundy appeared
in Miss Balmoral and was the voice
in Local Talent. "Actually," said
Ms Vanstone, "the only one who
has not worked with the rest of us
is Mike McManus, the new kid on
the block." Mr. McManus is mak-
ing his Blyth debut.
For Ms Vanstone directing Ceili
House is a nice and a new opportu-
nity. Though she has assistant
directed other productions, this is
her first mainstage experience as
director. "I am enjoying being on
the other side, looking at the whole
picture."
As an actor, she says, one must
focus on the character they are
playing. However as a director she
gets to "enjoy the wonderful quirks
in each character. The biggest chal-
lenge is not letting Colleen down.
It's such a great script, with appeal
for people of all ages, and it's my
responsibility to keep it moving in
the right direction. "
Though the characters may be a
little "off the wall" they are, the
writer and director say, all believ-
able. "I think everyone has some
eccentricity.
For Ms Vanstone making these
people real requires the time to see
what makes them click. "Once the
actors have a solid base of whom
these people are then you can build
on the eccentricity. What's thrilling
about the actors in this production
is their comedic timing and experi-
ence. You just know they'll find the
spark," she says.
Ceili House runs through to Sept.
11.
Rutabaga
Festival
Souvenirs
Including:
• Sweat Shirts & Pants
• Children's & Adults' T-Shirts
• Jackets
• Cook books
• Hats & Can Holders
Available at:
Bell's Variety, Blyth
while supplies last.
TAKE ADVANTAGE
\OF 1992 PRICES!!