HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-07-21, Page 23It was 1958 when Pat and
George held hands, exchanged
vows and had their first dance.
In 1993 they are still holding
hands and dancing up a storm.
Happy 35th
Anniversary
Grama and Papa
Love — Curtis,
Maurissa and Brent
LILLIAN RIEHL'S family invites her friends and relatives to a
SURPRISE 75TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
at her residence on SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1 - 5 p.m.
BEST WISHES ONLY.
50th Wedding
Anniversary
In honour of their 50th
Wedding Anniversary, the
family of Mary and Joe
Higgins invite you to an
Open House, July 24th,
1993 1:30 - 4 p.m at Main
St. United Church, Mitchell.
No gifts please. If you
wish, please bring a written
memory of your friendship
for art anniversary scrap
book.
HE'S ARMED...HE'S ADORABLE...
AND HE'S OUT OF SCHOOL
FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER.
AMERICA'S CLASSIC KID
IN A CLASSIC COMEDY!
FRI. - THURS. JULY 23 - 29
FRI. & SAT. 7 & 9 P.M.
SUN. - THURS. 8 P.M.
LONG DISTANCE? CALL I-800-265-3418 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1993. PAGE 23.
Actor enjoying 'fabulous' role in Blyth play
Back again
Lorna Wilson, who delighted Blyth audiences in past
seasons in such productions as Dreamland, Perils of
Persephone and Another Season's Promise is enjoying the
role of Fay in this years critically acclaimed Safe Haven.
By Bonnie Gropp
It was a combination of many
things that enticed a familiar face
back to Blyth after a four year
absence.
Lorna Wilson, whom Blyth Festi-
val audiences will remember from
her work in Stick and Stone,
Dreamland and Perils of Perse-
phone in the 1989 season has won
the hearts of theatre goers this year
with her portrayal of Aunt Fay in
Safe Haven.
Ms Wilson, who was in Blyth to
workshop the play in the winter
thought at the time what a " fabu-
lous play and fabulous role" it was.
"I was a bit surprised when they
offered the role to me as I thought
they would want someone closer in
age to the character of Fay," she
said, adding however, that she had
been impressed enough by the
character to be pleased to accept
the challenge. The wonders of
makeup added to the actor's ability
have pulled off the charade.
Ms Wilson actually began her
acting career late in life and in
Blyth. After a seven year sojourn in
Trinidad where she started a fami-
ly and worked on her Masters, Ms
Wilson in 1985 decided to carry out
a life-long dream and become an
actor. "I knew Janet (Amos), who
was artistic director at Blyth at the
time. We had been former class-
mates. I had communicated with
her and she wrote me saying, 'You
have housewife's disease, Lorna.
Why not come up here and be an
actress?'"
By the time the decision was
made, however, Ms Amos had left
and Katherine Kaszas, who Lorna
said was very encouraging, was at
the helm.
Loma spent four seasons at Blyth
then other opportunities presented
themselves. In 1990 she acted at
the Shaw Festival for eight months.
The following year , the first sum-
mer she stayed in her hometown of
Toronto she played a Mother Supe-
rior in the CBC movie I'll Never
Get to Heaven and landed the
librarian's role in the TVO series
Bookmice, which is geared to chil-
dren five to seven years old. The
one role at Blyth this summer
enables her to continue with her
work on that series. She expects to
return to Toronto seven days this
summer for taping. Ms Wilson,
describes working on the children's
show as a "pleasant place to work"
"It's a unique experience to be in
front of a camera."
Last year, Ms Wilson auditioned
to replace the late Susan Wright in
Bonjour la Bonjour.
In addition to juggling her acting
career, however, Ms Wright is also
an educator, a more lucratively sta-
ble career, which provides her with
the freedom to pursue her first love.
In addition to supply teaching, she
is presently doing a lot of consult-
ing work showing how to use
drama as a teaching methodology.
What attracted her to the role of
Fay was "her humour and vulnera-
bility".
"She's very expressive and out
front. There's not a lot of editing
when she talks. What she's thinking
just comes out," Ms Wilson says "I
think that's why Fay spends so
much time talking to her late hus-
band, Frank. It's a wonderful way
of sorting out her life."
lade Lemons/ Iliactiag Lesions
Try the (Remitled Ada!
Fay is a very likeable woman,
who is also very wise. She goes
through a growing process, which
makes her an interesting character
to portray as well, says Ms Wilson.
"By the end of the play she's able to
open up and tell a secret she has
been keeping for years. She has a
journey in the play that's emotional,
which is exciting for an actor to
do."
Whether Blyth audiences can
expect to see Ms Wilson in future
seasons, will of course depend on
her options."I have been spoilt; I've
been getting good roles, but you
know when you come to Blyth it's
the same. The work here is on the
same calibre as Stratford or Shaw;
the only difference is the money."
Working on new play develop-
ment is also a challenge at Blyth,
she says, adding that it has been a
pleasure to work with Mary-Colin
Chisholm, who not only wrote Safe
Haven but acts in it as well.
One thing the future doesn't hold
for Ms Wilson is directing. "I have
no interest in directing. I will
always be teaching, but if I had my
way I would act full time," she says
before adding pragmatically, "But
on the other hand, if I don't have
teaching jobs, I wouldn't be able to
do this."
Huron Country Playhouse is
tickled to present the Canadian
premiere of Out Of Order, a
hilarious new farce written by Ray
Cooney, author of the equally
hilarious Run For Your Wife,
produced at HCP in 1989. Out Of
Order runs from July 20 - July 31.
Out Of Order was first produced,
under the title of Whose Wife Is It
Anyway?, at the Thorndike Theatre,
Leatherhead on May 8, 1990
directed by and starring Ray
Cooney. It was subsequently
produced by Conney's Theatre of
Comedy Company at the
Shaftesbury Theatre in London's
West End on September 28, 1990.
It was first produced in the U.S. by
The Hampton Players, Hampton,
New Hampshire in August 1991. It
won the Olivier Award for Comedy
of the Year (1991).
The plot revolves around a junior
minister in Margaret Thatcher's
Conservative Government, who is
desperately trying to have an affair
with a secretary to the leader of the
opposition.
The junior minister, Richard
Willey, will be played by HCP
newcomer Chris Britton who has
worked extensively across Canada
and the U.S. The secretary, Jane
Worthington, will be played by
Gail Webster, also a new face to
HCP audiences but who has been
kept busy with featured roles on
stage and before the camera.
Richard Willey's Personal Private
Secretary, George Pigden, will be
played by funny man Paul Brown.
Mr. Brown was previously seen in
the HCP season opener Oliver! as
Mr. Broi.vnlow.
Completing the cast is: Bryan
Foster (The Manager), Corinne
Hebden (Pamela), Patric
Masurkevitch (Ronnie), Aimee
McKenzie (The Maid), Colin
Miller (The Waiter), George
Pothitos (A Body) and Catherine
Vaneri (Gladys).
Audiences will remember Mr.
Foster and Mr. Miller from past
• • •••
productions; Ms. Hebden, Mr.
Masurkevitch, Ms. McKenzie, Mr.
Pothitos and Ms. Vaneri are all new
faces to HCP.
Directing this farce is HCP
Artistic Director/General Manager,
Max Reimer. Mr. Reimer
previously directed Camelot last
season and Oliver! this year.
ENGAGEMENT
PARTY
for
JULIE BROMLEY AND
MIKE CHAPMAN
August 7, 1993
For Info. Call:
Debbie 523-9633
Bruce 887-9240
ntertainment
HCP presents political farce