HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-06-15, Page 23E ntertainment
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1994. PAGE 23.
Blyth season still sells well
The king in his castle
While many farm wives are aware their husbands spend
an inordinate amount of time in the barn, Rose Clarke
(Janet Amos) has to really try to coax her husband Aylmer
(Ted Johns) out. He Won't Come in From the Barn, which
opens this month at Blyth is a story about a farmer who
needs time to think things out, so he decides to go to his
barn to do it. What he doesn't realize is that it's going to
take so long.
Playwright discusses
character’s character
By Bonnie Gropp
This month will see the return of
farmer Aylmer Clarke to the Blyth
stage after 13 years.
First appearing in 1977, then
again in 1981, lhe man who would
n't come in from the bam seems to
fit quite nicely into the 90s. Writ-
er/actor Ted Johns says the changes
he has had to make in updating his
play, He Won't Come in From the
Barn, have been limited to remov
ing things specific to 1977. "Not to
appear immodest, but the humour
does seem to have survived quite
well," he says.
With its barnyard supporting cast
and legendary lead, Barn was
arguably one of lhe most popular
plays in the Festival's 20 year histo
ry. "Aylmer represents a voice to
some of the issues of our time," Mr.
Johns says. "He is part of a culture
that is in some way under siege. It
is the culture of this area and it
deserves the support and eloquence
we can give it."
Listening to Mr. Johns, his fond
ness for Aylmer is evident. A farm
boy himself, he has an understand
ing of the quiet, unassuming
strength of men like Aylmer, whom
he describes as a "little king".
"He is in his own place, in his
own lime. He has owned his territo
ry and now his kingdom is to be
divided," he says explaining why
he takes refuge in his bam.
One of the "amazing tussles" that
helps to drive Aylmer to his 'castle'
to think is between him and his
son. Wayne, a graduate of
Ridgetown, brings home a lot of
ideas about farming — that fanners
should have the same amount of
leisure time as any other profes
sional or have Wednesdays off —
that Aylmer can't comprehend.
Aylmer becomes aware that a
culture and a way of life he remem
bers are sliding away, which is a
sadly recognizable undercurrent to
this otherwise farcical tale.
"He's part of a whole generation
who knew their land and its value,"
says Mr. Johns. As Aylmer says
looking at his kingdom, "That's a
lot of money. I've probably got 50
cents sticking on my boot right
now."
And he won't let it go easily,
either. Noting that Aylmer's a fight
er, Mr. Johns quotes, "Get a hearse
and flowers and tell it to stop off at
the bank 'cause old Aylmer's
money is going with him."
"As time has gone on the depth
of this piece is becoming more evi
dent," says Mr. Johns, making ref
erences to the decreasing number
of farms. "People are becoming
aware that these mighty castles
they thought were permanent have
disappeared. The play has been
thrown into a profile, though I've
tried to make it optimistic, that
many of our fears have come to
pass.
Special Events Media Sponsor - CKNXIM 102
Special Events Sponsors - The Citizen, Blyth
Ideal Supply Company
Paul Zurbrigg, AACI Real Estate Appraiser
t> ent all
and the legendary hearts
FRIDAY JUNE 17
Doors Open at 7:30 pm
Seaforth District
Community Centres
Age of Majority Required
Tickets s10 in advance
s 15.00 at the door
For tickets call
Commercial Hotel 527-0980
or SDCC 527-1272
OPENING BAND "The Groove Gang"
Ticket sales for the Blyth
Festival's 20th Anniversary Season
continue to be very strong. A few
performances are sold out or almost
sold out but there are still lots of
tickets available for all four 1994
productions - Glengarry School
Days, He Won't Come In From The
Barn, Bouncing Back and The
Black Bonspiel of Wullie Mac-
Crimmon. Everyone planning on
attending performances at Blyth
this year, who hasn't yet ordered
tickets, should act quickly for lhe
’ best selection.
The Blyth Festival's 1994 season
opens June 24 with the world
premiere of Anne Chislett's
Glengarry School Days, based on
the novels of popular turn-of-the-
century author Ralph Connor. The
wonderfully popular 1977 hit, He
Won't Come In From The Barn by
Ted Johns, complete with live
animals and indomitable spirit,
opens on June 28. The world
premiere of Suzanne Finlay's
Bouncing Back, the comic,
‘Bucked ‘Doe,
for
RUSSELL NESBITT
& KERRY BABCOCK
SATURDAY, JUNE 18
9-1
Blyth & District
Community Centre
$5.00 each
Tickets at the door -
Age of Majority Only
LOOK OUT
Alison’s Legal
‘Jdappy 19tfi ‘Birthday
Love Dad, Mom & Ryan
heartwarming story of 80 year-old
Kate and her daughter Brenda's
attempt to sort out the chaos of
their lives, opens July 20.
Rounding out the main-stage
productions this season is W.O.
Mitchell's well known comedy The
Black Bonspiel of Wullie
MacCrimmon opening Aug. 4.
Voucher Packs (4 coupons
redeemable for any of the 4
mainstage plays) al $54 including
taxes and Adventure Packs (4
coupons, one for each mainstage
play) at $44 including taxes arc
Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie information ■
THE
How the
East was
Blyth Festival
presents
Blyth Memorial Community Hall
Sunday July 3, 1994
2 performances - 2 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Tickets - $25.00
Phone 519-523-9300
available from lhe Blyth Festival
Box Office until Opening Night,
June 24, only. Individual tickets arc
$6 for youths, $9.50 fop previews,
$15 for weekday and matinee
performances, and $19.50 for
Saturday evenings. Groups of 20 or
more qualify for a special discount
for most performances.
For Voucher and Adventure
Packs, individual and group ticket
orders, brochures and information,
don't delay, call the Blyth Festival
Box Office today, at (519) 523-
9300.
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STARTS FRI.,
JUNE 17
Fri., & Sat., 7-9
Sun.-Thurs., 8
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