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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-07-06, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 6,1994. Down in the bam It's a father and son confrontation on the farm as David Young as Wayne, left, and Ted Johns as Aylmer Clark, argue modern and conventional farming practices in Johns' play He Won't Come in From the Barn, which opened June 29 at Blyth Festival. Theatre Review Reviewer says Johns still a hit E ntertainment Broadway comedy at HCP By Christina Roulston Ted Johns is still an obvious favourite for Blyth Festival goers. Opening night of Johns' play He Won’t Come in From the Barn saw a full house packed with Johns* fans from his early days at the Festival, and they appeared to love him just as much as ever. This was my first time seeing the show that Johns both wrote and stars in, since I was too young the first couple of times the production appeared on the Blyth stage. I found I couldn't really appreciate the political aspects of the play: I have little knowledge of the problems of today's farmer. I did, however, enjoy Johns' sense of humour and the crazy antics of his character Aylmer Clark. Aylmer is quite the interesting man, who does not dwell on the same plane of reality as the rest of the world. He sees himself being quickly passed over by the technology and progress of mankind and he doesn't deal with it in the-way one would normally expect - he decides not to come out of the safe haven of his bam ever again. What is most bizarre is that Aylmer's new lifestyle doesn't seem to faze his wife Rose at all. Rose is played by Johns’ real-life spouse, Janet Amos who has returned to be the theatre's new artistic director. The on-stage chemistry of Johns and Amos is wonderful to see and they have a way of bringing the play to life. The set design by Glenn Davidson is fantastic. The sense of sitting in one of those old rickety bams is genuine from the rotting beams right down to the livestock. Two live cows tethered in the back comer of the set give to the atmo­ sphere, often sending the audience into a titter doing what duties cows do best. Chickens and pigs also grace the stage. The supporting cast, including Cliff Sanders, David Young, and Thomas Huff, have a tough job keeping up with a hilarity of Johns, however, they pull it off. Sanders as Anton, Aylmer's neighbour, is very amusing to watch and occasionally manages to steal the stage from Johns with his slapstick behaviour. A visit to Aylmer's farm from a government veterinarian official, played by Andrew Croft, is one of the most funny scenes of the play and it reminds us all of why government has such a bad name. To those of you who have never seen a Ted Johns production, I recommend you see He Won't Come in From the Barn, if not for the fun of it, then to learn something about the problems of today’s farmer. For those of you who have seen the play in former years, I recommend you take a trip down memory lane and visit an old friend again. But you had better hurry, because tickets are selling faster than hotcakes! BUILDINC TOMORROW ...TODAY Please contribute to: I JSCSk?56 sparks st OTTAWACanada kipsbi TEL: (613)234-6827 FAX: (613) 234-6842 A sensation on Broadway, London's West End and across Canada, Lend Me a Tenor by Ken Ludwig finally comes to Huron Country Playhouse from July 5 - July 16. It is the biggest night in the history of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company. Tito Mereilli, a world-famous opera singer, is to perform his greatest role at the gala, season-opening benefit performance. Through a wonderfully hilarious series of mishaps, Mereilli passes out, unable to perform. What follows is a zesty intelligent comedy that will also delight farce aficionados. Portraying II Stupendo (as he is known to his fans) will be Sandy Winsby making his HCP debut. Mr. Winsby brings a long list of credits to the Playhouse including Gus, the theatre cat in the original Toronto and touring productions of Cats. Making a return to the Playhouse stage is a funny-man Paul Brown as Max. Audiences will remember Mr. Brown from last season's hilarious farce Out of Order. Also returning to the HCP stage are John Gardiner (Saunders), Diane Fabian (Julia) and Shelley Peterson (Diana). Appearing for the fist time on the HCP stage are Anne Louise Bannon (Maria). Marguerite Pigott (Maggie) and Paul Herwig (Bellhop). Directing this comedy is Max Reimer, artistic director and Play opens July 5 Continued from page 29 creation of a live radio broadcast from the 1940's. This production of swing ballads and big band sounds featuring over 75 songs from the era, features sparkling marathon performances from three actor-singer-dancers Shelley Simes ter, Eric Degray and Deanna Overland. Completing Bluewater's first pro­ duction team is Musical Director Sandy Thorbum and Choreogra­ pher Kit Watkins. Thorbum most recently directed the music for "City of Angels" presented by the Brampton Musical Society, while Ms Watkins has choreographed and performed in several productions at the Burt Reynolds Theatre in Jupiter, Florida. "Blue Champagne” opens July 5 with a gala celebration attended by the Lieutenant Governor. The Bluewater Summer Playhouse also offers the nautical musical comedy "Dames at Sea" and the delightful­ ly popular "Nunsense" later this summer. Tickets for weekday per­ formances are $15 and for weekend shows $20. Individual tickets and specially priced packages are still available by calling the box office at (519)396-5722. (Buc(^& (Doe for BARB ALEXANDER & STEVE BOWLES Saturday, July 9 9 p.m. -1 a.m. Elma Community Centre Atwood Age of Majority $6.00/person Music by Ken, D.J. general manager of Huron Country Playhouse. The set design of a high class hotel suite in 1930s Cleveland is by Resident Designer Robert J. Ivey and the wardrobe, reminiscent of the period by Jo Zvonkin. Technical aspects of the show are looked after by Simon Day (production manager/lighting designer), Vincent Berns (stage manager) and their support staff. Order tickets by calling the Huron Country Playhouse Box Office at (519) 238-6000. Stag & (Doe PAT MURRAY & DEBBIE HOY at Lucknow Arena. SATURDAY, JULY 9,1994 9 -1 Lunch Provided Music by D.J. Tickets $5.00 Age of Majority For Tickets: 357-3435 Aged to perfection Happy 50th Vernice Love Your Family re: Redevelopment of the former Huronview Senior Citizens' Home into A COUNTY LIBRARY HEADQUARTERS AND HEALTH SERVICES COMPLEX Members of the Public are invited to attend and give their views on this important County initiative. Representatives of various Community-Based Not-For-Profit Organizations are encouraged to attend. Meeting: HURON COUNTY MUSEUM THEATRE, 110 North St., Goderich