Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-07-28, Page 19MONSTER 13•1•N•G•0 MONDAY AUGUST 2, 7:30 PM Seaforth Arena Doors Open at 5:30 pm $5,000 \ ALL GAME PRIZES WILL BE DOUBLED PLUS SHARE THE WEALTH Proceeds to Seaforth Minor Sports Lic. #048196 ,500. JACKPOT MUST GO SATURDAY NIGHT SINGLE BINGO AT THE GODERICH COLUMBUS CENTRE 4 250 TOTAL PRIZE 9 MONEY Doors Open 5:30 p.m. BINGO 7:00 p.m. SHARP '1,500 JACKPOT MUST GO! WEST WAWANOSH MUTUAL 1879 INSURANCE COMPANY 1993 (69 "Neighbour helping Neighbour I/ YOUR LOCAL AGENTS Frank Foran, Lucknow528-3824 Lyons & Mulhern, Goderich 524-2664 Donald R. Simpson, Ripley 395-5362 Delmar Sproul, Auburn 529-7273 Clinton482-3434 Chapman-Graham & Assoc. Insurance Brokers Inc. Owen Sound 376.1774 City Insurance Offices Limited Kincardine 396-9513 P.A. Roy Insurance Broker Inc. Clinton 482-9357 Banter, MacEwan, Feagan Insurance Brokers Limited, Goderich 524-8376 Kenneth MacLean, Paisley 368-7537 McMaster Siemon Insurance Brokers Inc. Mitchell 348-9150 John Nixon, Brussels 887-9417 Chapman Graham Lawrence Insurance Brokers Walkerton 881-0611 "INSURANCE FOR FARM, RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL AND AUTO" THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1993. PAGE 19. `Band' brings playwright's memories to life E ntertainment Boy in the band John Roby's The Old Man's Band which opens in Blyth this week is a story which originated as, a chapter in the authors life. It tells the tale of a young man in the 60s being forced to play in his fathers Dixieland band. From left: Christopher Earle as the 'kid', Robert Seale as 'the old man', Jerry Franken, John Wright, Jay Bowen and Wally McSween. Fri. - Thurs. July 30 - Aug. 5 8 pm Nitely LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-1300-255-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO JOHN ROBY By Bonnie Gropp Our memories are treasures that when unlocked can provide us with some wonderful stories. It was a memory that inspired John Roby's The Old Man's Band, which opens this weekend in Blyth, though the author says it is now only semi-autobiographical. " What we have done really is taken a lot of events that happened and shaken them up." A well-known composer, who has collaborated with playwright Raymond Storey on such brilliant successes as Country Hearts, Girls in the Gang and Dreamland, which were all part of past Blyth seasons, Mr. Roby says he had the idea for a show based loosely on his memo- ries of his father's band. "I spoke with my agent regard- ing a collaborator," the writer recalls. ''Ray (Storey) was very busy at the time working in Edmonton. Also, when I collabo- rate with him it's usually been on his story idea." Mr. Roby's agent suggested the composer pen the script himself. After expressing initial doubt, Mr. Roby agreed to give it a try. His wife actor/director Patricia Van- stone, read the first draft and encouraged him to keep going. Others also expressed interest. "Katherine Kaszas (former Blyth artistic director) was enthused and encouraged me to continue," says Mr. Roby. "That gave me the desire. I felt if it wasn't going to have theatre interest then I wasn't going to pursue it. It simply takes too much time." Artistic Director Peter Smith and Associate Artistic Director Greg Spottiswood invited Mr. Roby to come workshop his play this past winter in Blyth. Then with Ms Kaszas spurring him on he went to the Banff Centre for the Arts to further work on the play. "It was a creative environ- ment to be in. The play progressed in leaps and bounds. " He gives a good deal of credit to Ms Kaszas. "What is great about Katherine is she doesn't tell me how to write, but rather suggests directions and conflicts. She is very clever, very sharp. I consider her one of the best in the business." Mr. Roby says writing alone has been an experience. "I enjoy the feedback of working with someone. Ray and I enjoy a good collabora- tion. We give each other goals and push each other. I found it strange to be on my own." Composing the songs, Mr. Roby says was "like a vacation." The story of The Old Man's Band began out of Mr. Roby's experience as a young man playing in his father's Dixieland band. However, while the character in the story is dragged kicking to his father's rehearsal, Mr. Roby says, it was actually he who encouraged his father to play in this hand. "In actu- al fact I brought the band to my father." They in turn eventually recruited the young Roby's talents, who was, he says, "not that keen." However, that conflict in the play has been exaggerated to create more interesting drama, Mr. Roby says. "The reality of my life is that my father and I get along quite well. But you need the dramatic tension. It really isn't my father and it really isn't me anymore." The 'old man' is stronger and a little meaner than the elder Mr. Roby, his son says, while 'the kid' is more stubborn. "The play started as a celebration of that time. It still is for me, but it's moved from that. The reality is I did get to know who my father was, while I played in that band." In addition to writing and scoring the play, Mr. Roby is also musical director. "It's a big job. I always work very hard on a show but this has been the most work. I like to control the parts, I like arranging it basically, but that combined with rewrites has been hectic." Mr. Roby says he has used the music as a metaphor for the genera- tion gap. "At the end there is a kind of cross fading which is quite chal- lenging for the band. The transi- tions are ambitious, though given the calibre of this band, I think not too ambitious." The actors appearing on stage are not musicians. The real band, which arrived Friday, July 23, will be upstage in a soundproof room. "There are several wrinkles to work out yet. It's like flying blind. I can see the band, but they can't really see what's happening with us," he said. Mr. Roby feels he is fortunate to have this particular cast and musi- cians working with him. "One of the young actors, Katherine Rose, has an incredible voice. Once I knew I had someone with that cali- bre of talent I wrote the songs for her. That's the incredible thing— the play takes shape around its cast. The veteran actors are all experi- enced, he says. "They're familiar with the process and they're having a ball. I hope the audience enjoys it as much as we seem to be."