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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-08-04, Page 19A murdered wife. A one-armed man. An obsessed detective. The chase begins. HARM MID 'THE FUGITIVE Fri. - Thurs. Aug. 06 - 12 7 & 9:15 p.m. Nitely LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-800- 55-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE JNFO THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1993. PAGE 19. Theatre Review Strong script, acting but music steals show The Blyth Festival Young Com- pany is preparing for their August production which will be presented from Aug. 11 to Aug. 21. The Play, ''Look Away, the Drag- on is Dying on the Ground", is a collective effort created by 30 peo- ple ages 13 to 21. The structure is Art critics, sociologists, and rural-development proponents have heralded the community play The Spirit of Shivaree as one of the most successful community-based endeavors of our time. For 10 nights in June 1990, the ruins of the Harris Woollen Mill near Rockwood, Ont. (about 75 kilometres from Toronto) came to life as the people of Eramosa Township told their story to sold- out audiences. Eight months before opening night, filmmakers Charlie Fox and Mark Hamilton (brother of The Spirit of Shivaree playwright Dale Hamilton) went behind the scenes to chronicle the evolution and realization of the play as well as the local issues that inspired this innovative theatrical event. The result is Dignity and Grace, a new documentary premiering on From the Heart Thursday, Aug. 12 at 9 p.m., that witnesses a community united in a common goal. "For me, the heart of Dignity and Grace comes from my roots in Eramosa Township," says Mr. Hamilton. "I am a member of a sixth-generation Eramosa farm family, and have witnessed the transformation of the township from a small agricultural being developed through the work- shop process of last year. The story tells of two clowns who try to get the sun moving again. Through their travels they encounter many strange creatures trying to protect their own world. The play is full of clowns, beasts, singing, dancing and nature. community as it grew to accommodate the overflow of Toronto's housing crunch. The farm community has always been based on close ties and co-operation - a value system that was disappearing along with the traditional family farm concept." "Through the production of Dignity and Grace," says Mr. Hamilton, "I came to realize that it doesn't matter if the landscape is covered with cornfields or houses...the sense of the rural community is still there and will hopefully always be there." The Spirit of Shivaree combines historical fact and fiction to present a rural Ontario community evolving from the volatile 1820s to the present day. It highlights the rebellion of 1837 and the trial and acquittal of the "Rockwood Rebels" who were accused of treason for supporting William Lyon Mackenzie. Dignity and Grace captures the spirit and pride of the play as community residents pull together to stage this unique production that reflects the crucial issue of the day...rural land development and the need for community residents to have a say in the future of their land. Dignity and Grace co-producer- The play will be performed at The Arch at the end of Drummond St. East in Blyth. No advance tick- ets will be sold but admission will be collected at the time of the show. The cost is $5. For more information, contact the Blyth Festival office at 523-4345. director Charlie Fox says, "I've worked in the arts for over 20 years. To watch a community put their collective heart and soul into the process of creating an original work of art - the play - was one of the most inspiring artistic events I've witnessed." The play involved 150 amateur actors whose sheer commitment and passion impressed the play's director, Jon Oram, who left professional theatre in the U.K. to do community plays in England and now Canada. "Here are these nonprofessionals," he says, "so- called ordinary people, who have this incredible commitment to each other, their community, and the play. They perform with a kind of passion we'd never seen." Sixth-generation Eramosa resident Dale Hamilton who also wrote the recent community play Many Hands for Blyth was inspired to write the play when she came home to the township after eight years away and saw the changes time and outside influences had made in the community. "The whole rural nature of the township is in danger," she said at the time. "I'm not anti-development, but I want to see community input into how and where the development takes place." By Bonnie Gropp There was a well deserved standing ovation for the cast of John Roby's "Old Man's Band", which opened in Blyth Friday but the real star of the show was not on stage at the time. Despite an entertaining script by first-time playwright John Roby, solid acting and some outstanding vocals, it was Roby's score which really stole the show. Those who have been enchanted by Mr. Roby's music in former Blyth seasons; he composed for Ray Storey's "Girls in the Gang" and "Dreamland"; will not be surprised by the magic of his music in this production. "The Old Man's Band" is based, in part, on memories of Mr. Roby's time spent playing bass in his father's group, The Lower Grey Street Marching and Clam Chowder Society Band. In the play, which is directed by Katherine Kaszas, "Kid", played wonderfully by Blyth newcomer Christopher Earle is recruited to play with his dad's Doc Hanley's Dixieland Stompers. The idea was not an appealing one. "I was embarrassed to be in the same auditorium with them let alone on the same stage," says Kid. Kid's music is rhythm and blues so he would have preferred to play the music that "was going to change the world" with his band, comprised of two other young men and a rebellious female lead singer. Though it is said that you write best about what you know, when Mr. Roby first had the idea for the play he was reluctant to write it himself. In this first effort, however, he has crafted an admirable script that offers a great deal to the audience. Set in the latter part of the turbulent 60s it shows the ongoing tug of war between establishment father and his increasingly more independent son. The play touches on many issues relevant to the times, while demonstrating that some things change and some things remain the same. What Kid eventually comes to understand is how much he is learning about his father and the bond that they share. Though their preferences were different, Kid started to realize that Dixieland held the same passion for his father that the blues did for him. 'Throughout their confrontation, Mom, played by Claire Crawford is often the voice of reason. While some of the humour (and there is plenty) or references were very much from the times and could have been missed by anyone other than the baby boomers in the audience it would not detract from the entertainment value of the overall production. The set design by William Chesney is simple with dividers and minimal furnishings making the change from dining room to rehearsal to dance hall effectively. The actors in the old man's band, John Wright, Jerry Franken, Wally McSween and Jay Bowen are stage veterans, many of them familiar faces to Blyth audiences. Though none are musicians they appeared as comfortable in the roles as they would be in an old housecoat. The young band members, Gabe Hogan and Paul Braunstein also do a good job, but it is the voice of Kathryn Rose, as the free spirited, rebel Jessica Weldon, that bewitches you. Her sultry voice has a rich tonal quality well suited to the bluesy tunes she sings. The musical genius of Mr. Roby produced some wonderful tunes not just for the younger band but for the Stompers as well. One particular highlight was the "I Hate Polka, Polka", which was the best stress reliever I've had in a long time. Rather than tying the songs together, the story of "The Old Man's Band" is connected by its memorable music. While its story will become a pleasant memory, I left the theatre wishing there was some way to keep the music with me forever. ENGAGEMENT PARTY for JULIE BROMLEY AND MiKE CHAPMAN August 7, 1993 For Info. Call: Debbie 523-9633 Bruce 887-9240 A Buck Doe for Jeff Sanders & Michelle Sanders Friday, August 6, 1993 at the Wingham Legion 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Music by Peter Bauer Age of Majority Only $5.00 per person - Lunch provided STAG AND DOE for Richard Ireland and Pamela Rosekat Saturday August 7, 1993 9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. Auburn Hall $5.00 per person Music by D.J. Lunch Provided Age of Majority Standing ovation earned Robert Seale, Claire Crawford and Chris Earle (left to right) and other members of the cast of "The Old Man's Band" received a well-deserved standing ovation at the show's opening Friday night, reviewer Bonnie Gropp says, but the biggest star of the show is John Roby's exuberant music. E ntertainment Young Company performs Aug. 11-21 TV show focuses on community play