HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-04-13, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1994. PAGE 23.
ntertainment
Music review
Fiddlers delight audience
Story of a legend
On Sunday, May 8 Blyth Festival will be presenting the Jim Betts play Colours in the Storm,
which is based on the lite of Tom Thomson, who along with other Canadian artists formed the
infamous Group of Seven.
Artist’s story comes to Blyth
By Janice Becker
As the final notes of the waltz
wafted through the air, a voice in
the darkness rang out. "How about
the 'Burnt Potato'."
That was the atmosphere al the
audience-designed concert per
formed by Graham and Eleanor
Townsend al Blyth Memorial Hall
on April 10.
After an introductory nine song
medley, Mr. Townsend asked the
capacity crowd to yell out names of
their favourite fiddle tunes.
Taking two or three at a time, the
duo, accompanied by their son
Gray Townsend Jr. on piano, Char
lie Steinhoff on stand-up bass and
Jerry McNulty on acoustic guitar,
proceeded to create a concert con
sisting almost exclusively of
requests.
It was very easy to feel the enjoy
ment of the crowd as the auditori
um floor shook from toe-tapping
and many selections were wel
comed by applause after only a few
bars.
During the second set, Gray
Townsend pleased the audience
with two piano solos, recalling an
old show tune from the 40s and a
jazzy piece which kept the mood
lively.
Eleanor Townsend favoured the
audience with a tune she wrote
called the Dungannon Waltz.
The group presented a very enter
taining show.
As was overheard from specta
tors, "The show was very upbeat,
you couldn't help but smile."
Graham Townsend first came to
prominence al the age of 11 by
winning the CNE fiddling contest
and defeating his adult competitors.
His influences arc widely varied,
which was evident in his knowl
edge of requested songs. His inter
ests include Irish and Scottish
melodies, jazz, bluegrass and
swing, just to mention a few.
Mr. Townsend was inducted into
the North America Fiddlers Hall of
Fame and is the five-time undefeat
ed North American Fiddle Champi
on.
Eleanor Townsend was the first
woman to win the Canadian Open
Old-Time Fiddle Championship.
She earned the title after Graham
retired from the competition.
They are North America's only
championship fiddle team.
Both Townsends write music and
have numerous albums, both as a
duo and solo acts.
Tom Thomson is a legend among
Canadian painters. His great
canvasses - Jack Pine, Northern
River, and The West Wind - are a
treasured part of our national
heritage, and the mystery of his
death in Algonquin Park in 1917
remains unsolved to this day. Jim
Betts, one of Canada's most
talented composer/playwrights,
tells the story of Thomson's life and
art in his Colours in the Storm, a
startling new musical play full of
humor, passion and intrigue,
coming to the Blyth Memorial Hall
for one performance only, 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 8.
Colours in the Storm is the story
of a man who at age 34 discovers
what he wants to do with his life
and for the next five short years
furiously pursues his obsession: to
capture in paint the exact quality of
the color he finds in the northern
landscape. As well as the
obsessive artist, Thomson is
revealed as a gregarious and
charismatic charmer, who stirs up
dark passions in those around him.
Thomson was a Toronto photo
engraver when he met Ben Jackson,
who first took him to Algonquin
Park in 1912, along with some of
the other artists who would later
form the Group of Seven: J.E.H.
MacDonald, Franklin Carmichael,
Frederick Varley and Arthur
Lismer.
The circumstances of his death
remain a puzzling and haunting
mystery. On July 16, 1917, 10
days after he disappeared,
Thomson's body was discovered
floating face down in Canoe Lake,
with fishing line wound 16 times
around one of his ankles and a four
inch gash on his head.
Accident or murder? Was Marlin
Bletchcr jealous enough of Tom's
relationship with Winnie Trainor to
kill him, or did Annie Fraser’s
kindness for the painter enrage her
suspicious, hot-tempered husband?
Jim Betts leaves us with the
mystery. His play is about
Thomson's life, the struggle to
become what he was, and his fight
against time.
Mr. Betts subtitles Colours in the
Storm "A Gallery of Scenes and
Songs on the Life of Tom
Thomson." It is a play with music,
the original score influenced by
folk and Celtic traditions. The
songs are representations of the
paintings, describing the emotional
and physical landscape around
Thomson.
Tickets for the single local
performance of this touring
production by Tapestry Theatre are
available for $17. each from the
Blyth Box Office at 523-9300.
Program has growth potential
Continued from page 22
Hayes Programme for Theatre
Training can be not only
maintained but expanded, to
become a programme that is open
to participants outside of our acting
company."
The John Sullivan Hayes
HCP introduces
new brochure
The Huron Country Playhouse
recently presented its 1994 Season
Brochure and Visitors’ Guide.
In a press release issued by Pub
lic Relations Director John McHen
ry, the brochure is described as a
"guide to what's on at the Play
house, where to stay, where to eat,
attractions, shopping and services
in Grand Bend and area."
Mr. McHenry says the guide is a
giant leap forward by incorporating
a visitors' guide with the season
schedule.
Anyone interested in obtaining a
copy of the Playhouse lineup may
call (519) 238-8387.
Programme for Theatre Training is
named in memory of John Hayes,
Festival producer for 27 consecu
tive seasons and a member of the
Board of Governors from 1983
until his death in July of 1993.
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
Gotcha
Happy Birthday
Great-Grandma & Grandma
April 13
Happy 30th
Cookie
Lampoon
BLYTH^F ESTIVAL PuppettheatW
presents » •
Clowning Around
ONE SHOW ONLY
2 p.m.
Saturday
April 16
Two irresistibly
funny clowns
perform, with
sophistication and
charm, a circus act
to delight all ages.
Blyth Memorial Community Hall
Tickets $7.00 523-9300
Love - Your Family
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Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie information
Starts April 15/94
Fri. & Sat. 7-9 p.m.
Sun.-Thurs. 8 p.m.
Lyceum Now Available for Lectures
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