HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-06-29, Page 37Page 9
- - - - Stops Along ‘Tfie. ‘Way ’94----
Theatre plays focus on rural issues
Continued from page 8
who built on his success. She commissioned
Anne Chislett to write Quiet in the Land and
launched the success of The Tomorrow Box.
She commissioned Ted Johns (her husband)
to write such Blyth favourites as St. Sam of
the Nuke Pile (about nuclear energy),
Garrison's Garage and Country Hearts.
The latter began a long, fruitful
association between the Festival and
composer John Roby. Although he had been
involved in projects before, this show
marked his emergence as a force in
Canadian musical theatre. Later he was to
return, during the era of Katherine Kaszas as
artistic director, to team with Raymond
Storey on Girls in the Gang (1987) a
musical on Toronto's infamous Boyd Gang,
and The Dreamland (1989). In 1993 he
wrote both the book and lyrics for The Old
Man's Band.
Also bridging the eras of Janet Amos and
Katherine Kaszas was Colleen Curran,
author of a string of comic hits. Her Cake-
Walk premiered in 1984, the last year for
Ms Amos and toured for Ms Kaszas in 1986.
Ms Curran went on to contribute Miss
Balmoral of the Bayview (1987), Local
Talent (1990) and Ceili House during the
directorship of Peter Smith last year.
Playwrights from rural areas from the
Prairies to Nova Scotia have had their
common interests with rural Ontarians
portrayed on the Festival stage. Kelly
Rebar's Bordertown Cafe (1987 and 1988)
and Robert Clinton's The Mail-Order Bride
(1988, 1989) proved the similarity with
Prairie people while Mary-Colin Chisholm's
Safe Haven (1993) put some Nova Scotian
characters on the stage who could have
walked out of the Blyth Inn across the street.
While the entertainment value of the
plays is the most important factor in drawing
larger and larger audiences, the Festival
struggled over the years to provide more
comfort as well. After the very first season,
an employment grant allowed the
redecorating of the theatre, including the
painting of the seats whose old varnish had
turned tacky the hot summer before,
virtually entrapping some patrons.
The biggest single improvement came a
couple of seasons later, however, when air
conditioning was installed. In 1980 the
actors got real dressing rooms for the first
time (the first season they dressed in the
downstairs kitchen and went up the fire
escape then for several seasons had a
construction trailer outside). The 1980
addition to the north side of Memorial Hall
also provided access for handicapped
patrons and gave room for a box office and
administration offices and an art gallery.
Big changes came along in the early
1990s. A garage on Dinsley Street was
turned into the first proper facility for
building sets, painting sets, making
costumes and making props. "The Garage"
also provided a rehearsal space which could
also become a theatre for small productions.
The old bank building next to Memorial
Hall was renovated to provide administration
offices and, upstairs, a second rehearsal
space. The two buildings were linked with a
building containing new washrooms, a new
art gallery, box office and more wing space
for the stage upstairs.
The building was finished just as the
recession hit, however, and while most of
the money had already been raised, finding
the last portion proved a heavy burden. In
1992 and 1993 attendance also fell
dramatically.
So this past winter the Festival's Board of
Directors brought back Janet Amos to work
her magic again as she had a decade earlier.
She has, in 1994, called on old friends and
audience favourites to win back the
audience.
The season opens June 24 with Anne
Chislett's adaptation of Glengarry School
Days. The play is based on a 1902 novel and
other works by former minister, diplomat
and soldier Charles William Gordon who,
writing under the pseudonym Ralph Connor,
sold five million copies around the world in
the early part of this century. The play takes
part in 1878, just 11 years after the founding
of Canada when there was, Ms Amos says, a
tremendous sense of building a country.
Among the issues of the day is the first of
the elections fought on the issue of free trade
with the U.S. The play will feature a large
cast including local youngsters.
To honour the 20th anniversary of the
Festival, Ms Amos is following the
suggestion of former Artistic Director Peter
Smith in bringing back one of the most
popular plays from the past: He Won't Come
Continued on page 10
Discover the historic
beauty of St. Helens
There are many reasons to visit St. Helens.
Situated in the picturesque undulating landscape of West
Wawanosh township, it is a drive well worth taking. Along the
way you can find respite from a busy world by enjoying some
brief moments of refreshing country quiet.
Here, the world moves at a slower pace, but there are more
attributes to this historic hamlet than scenery.
St. Helens is the heart of the Old Order Mennonite community in
Huron County. Several Mennonite and other artisans work and
display the results of their labours in the area.
r Exposing one
of the County’s Secrets
A Sewer’s Delight
45" Cotton Prints
& 45" Cotton Broadcloth
& Quilt Batts
& 45” White Eyelet
& Pieced Quilts
& Handmade Quilts
Open Mon., Wed., Fri.
or by chance or appointment
ST. HELENS
WA FABRICS
St. Helen's Bulk Foods
at main intersection St. Helens
2 homes south of main corner
St. Helens 528-2400
TRIPLE J
FURNITURE RESTORATIONS
Furniture Restoration &
Cabinetry
• Custom built furniture
Original designs • Refinishing
Upholstering
Craftsmanship
in the
Country Tradition
Kathy and Gary Leeman
Open by chance or appointment
Two Roads South and East of LucknowST. HELENS
Basket Craft - Caning
- Rush & Wicker
• Traditional cane and wicker
chairs and artifacts repaired