HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-07-27, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1994. PAGE 19.
Board of directors plans supper for anniversary
By Janice Becker
The 20lh anniversary celebration for the
Blyth Festival will offer a retrospective taste
as well as look.
The Aug. 7 activities will feature two per
formances showcasing many of the original
Canadian plays premiered at Blyth through
the years, but the Country Supper may be the
highlight for some.
The menu for the meal will closely resem
ble the fare available at the first country sup
per served by members of the Board of
Directors on Aug. 23, 1980.
Blyth Festival has
become almost as
famous for its food as
for its plays. It’s only
fitting that a Country
Supper will be part of
the 20th season
retrospective
Marion Douchcttc co-ordinator of the
anniversary celebration, located the menu and
says she felt if would be a great idea to recre
ate the menu for the anniversary.
"The first country supper was a take-off of
the meals offered by local churches as
fundraisers. The festival board thought the
idea would be useful for them as well, but
they took the idea a little farther," says Ms
Douchette.
"There were many 'gourmet cooks' on the
board so some specialty items were added to
the menu," says Festival Development Co
ordinator Linda Lentz, a former board mem
ber.
Ms Douchette says, "The first country sup
per was a hot buffet, served in a very hot
Londesboro Hall where the air temperature
was higher than some of the food tempera
tures. It is ironic that for the 20th anniversary
celebration the menu will be a cold buffet
served in the air-conditioned Memorial Hall."
Ms Lentz says one of the most impressive
parts of the meal will be the "marvelous array
of home-baked pies which this area is known
for."
Ms Douchette says the menu for the event
will include Sheila Richard's rhubarb punch;
Blyth's renowned tea biscuits; home-fried
chicken (the original featured roast turkey);
cold sliced ham (originally served hot); a
variety of salads including bean, hot mixed
cabbage, a tomato, broccoli and cauliflower
salad and potato salad (originally scalloped
potatoes).
The 5 p.m. meal will be attended by The
Honourable Henry N.R. Jackman, Lieutenant
Governor of Ontario and acclaimed Canadian
author W.O. Mitchell.
524-7532; Crossroads in Clinton, 482-5885
or Bluewater Office Equipment in Wingham,
357-1554.
Those wishing to purchase the $10 tickets
may contact the Blyth Festival office, 523-
9300; Campbell Photography in Goderich,
Box by Anne Chislett.
Many Festival actors have gone
on to brilliant careers on stage
Continued from page 18
F. E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham ,
he had been involved in various amateur
productions with the Wingham Towne
Players.
Mark Battye: was the first Blyth resident to
be on the Festival stage, playing the young
Harry in Mostly in Clover. In a way he was
part of a famous Blyth theatrical family. His
mother Betty was a board member of the
Festival for many years and his sisters
Catherine and Rachel worked both on stage
and behind the scenes at the Festival. This
year his nephew John Battye Jr. is a member
of the cast of Glengarry School Days. Today
Mark is an insurance adjuster living near
London.
Pat Hulley: was one of the local residents
called upon to fill out the large cast of The
Mouse Trap. She also put in a lot of
volunteer hours that summer helping behind
the scenes. Her theatre career was short,
however. Today, as then, she's most famous
as Mrs. Hulley the long-time teacher at Blyth
Public School.
Doug Palmer: was a student at Canadian
Memorial Chiropractic College when he was
called upon by his old Clinton classmale
James Roy for a role in The Mouse Trap.
Today, a full-fledged chiropractor, he has
offices in Goderich and Blyth, just next door
to the theatre.
Melda McElroy: came back to her native
Blyth from teaching in Guelph every
summer back when the Festival was
beginning. One of the group who first
worked to spruce up Memorial Hall in 1972,
she look a role in The Mouse Trap. Retired
for many years now, she lives in a retirement
home in Seaforth.
Linda Caldwell: was a quiet, behind the
scenes helper as a volunteer assistant to
James Roy that first summer. Today she is
married and a teacher living in Lambion
County.
Other faces:
DeeDee Langford: took many of the largest
roles during the seasons from 1976 to 1978
and stole a few male hearts as well. Today
she runs a shop with her mother in Toronto
and has recently been back doing some work
as an actress (working for James Roy at CBC
Radio).
Alf Humphries: Was a community favourite
during the late 1970s. He went on to become
one of the most familiar faces in television
commercials in the country with his
infectious smile that won hearts in Blyth. It's
understood he's living on the west coast now.
Kate Trotter: came to Blyth straight out of
theatre school in the late 1970s and began an
illustrious career. She has appeared on most
of the major stages in Canada, as well as in
movies, television and radio. This past
winter she appeared in two play at The
Grand Theatre in London.
Seana McKenna: was a knockout from the
very beginning, suffering a fall from the
stage in a blackout in her first professional
performance at Blyth. She was taken to
hospital but recovered to begin an impressive
career which has seen her play at both the
Stratford and Shaw Festivals as well as most
of the other major theatres in the country.
Today she lives in Herrington, near Stratford
with her husband Miles Potter.
Miles Potter: thrilled audiences at Blyth
before there was a Blyth Festival, appearing
in The Farm Show. Later he directed several
productions at Blyth and appeared in
another. Today he lives with his wife Seana
McKenna, who he met at Blyth, at
Herrington, near Stratford.
Cheers to the
Blyth Festival on
20 Great Seasons! \
' Looking forward
to the next 20.
Campbell's
Cameras &
Photography
164 The Square, Goderich !
524-7532
Congratulations Best Wishes
to the Blyth Festival
Come shop in our friendly store
while you’re at the Reunion
WEBSTER’S CLOTHING
& FOOTWEAR
Queen St., Blyth 523-9709 Visa & Mastercard accepted
■ 1
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It is our pleasure to
congratulate the Blyth Festival on
their 20th Anniversary
Homecoming! BRAVtlL
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fSllintt Snsuranrr
tSrnkrrfi fEintitrb
Insurance in all Branches
Blyth Established in 1910 523-4481
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In the heart of the heritage
village of Bayfield
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THE LITTLE INN
OF BAYFIELD
applauds the
Blyth Festival for 20 great
years of achievement.J