HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-08-10, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1994. PAGE 17.
The shows go on
Representatives from the cast and crew of 20 seasons at
Blyth Festival were present for the anniversary celebration
retrospective show on Aug. 7. Prior to the performance,
which was directed by Miles Potter, seated front and
centre, Clare Vincent, veteran and a Legion representative
and John Rutledge, designer of the Blyth Memorial
Community Hall History dedicated to the memory of
Evalena Webster presented the framed history to His
Honour, Henry N. R. Jackman, the Lieutenant Governor of
Ontario.
Retrospective brings ghosts to life
The story line director Miles Pot
ter created for the 20th anniversary
season retrospective at the Blyth
Festival talked about ghosts in
Blyth Memorial Hall and for the
hundreds of people who attended
the two performances Sunday, the
ghosts were very much alive.
Scenes from 18 productions over
the past 20 seasons were performed
on stage, bringing back vivid mem
ories for those involved in the the
atre whether onstage, behind the
scenes or in the audience. But there
were much more lively figures too,
represented by many of the most
familiar faces from the Blyth stage
over the years.
All but three of the company
members from the 1975 season
were in attendance, including
Angie Gei, Jim Schaefer, Steven
Thome, stage-manager Ron Fergu
son and James Roy and Anne
Chislett. Others from throughout
the years appeared, re-enacting
roles they had starred in or gamely
performing parts they studied for
the first time only on Saturday.
Artistic Director Janet Amos and
former Artistic Directors James
Roy and Katherine Kaszas helped
Mr. Potter shape the show that fea
tured the famous "buggy race"
scene from Mostly in Clover and
scenes from other audience
favourites such as Quiet in the
Land, The Mail Order Bride, The
Tomorrow Box, Country Hearts
and The Dreamland. Some actors
even recreated moments they'd like
to forget, like Seana McKenna's
famous fall from the stage during
her professional debut in the 1979
production of This Foreign Land
(though she didn't complete the fall
this time).
The cast received standing ova
tions after both the afternoon and
evening performances. After the
show a tape recorded 1975 CKNX
radio show which featured back-
stage interviews with cast members
after the opening of Mostly in
Clover was played and the audi
ence stayed in its seats to listen
and, at the evening performance,
watch archival slides from several
of the shows produced over the
years. There seemed a reluctance to
let the memories fade by leaving
the theatre.
Prior to the evening performance
there were two special presenta
tions. Lieutenant-Govemor Henry
N. R. Jackman accepted, on behalf
of the community and the province,
a large plaque tracing the history of
Memorial Hall, dedicated to the
memory of long-time Festival and
community supporter, Evalena
Webster. Reeve Dave Lee and his
mother Helen presented a signature
quilt to the Festival to record the
names of those who had taken part
in the community play Many
Hands in 1993.
Also part of the day's activities,
which were co-ordinated by Marian
Doucette, was a "country supper"
in Memorial Hall between the per
formances.
HCP company
hits the road
Huron Country Playhouse is
taking its talent on the road in the
form of a seniors outreach
programme. The show, a new
musical revue of Broadway, Gilbert
and Sullivan, Vera Lynn and War
songs will be performed by Steven
A. Gauci, Christian Jeffrey,
Melodic Shannon and Mai Liis
Todd accompanied on piano by
Laurence Gauci. The show is
directed by Carl K. Zvonkin.
Beginning Aug. 8, the troupe will
embark on a 21-slop tour between
Sarnia and Wingham/presenting
this 90 minute show to those who
arc unable to attend Huron Country
Playhouse in person. "Instead of
the seniors coming to us, we arc
going to the seniors" said Mr.
Zvonkin. "It's all part of our
community awareness pro
gramme".
All members of the ensemble arc
performing for Huron Country
Playhouse for the first time. Mr.
Zvonkin has been a familiar face to
HCP audiences for many years and
is teaching, for his second year, as
Instructor for the Playhouse
Theatre Camp/Thcatre School.
The troupe will be at Brussels
Huronlca at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 10.
Glad Days ahead
The Blyth Legion Ladies Auxil
liary is sponsoring a gladioli tea on
Aug. 11 to support the effort to
fight epilepsy.
The tea will be held from 10 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. at the Blyth Legion.
Lunch will be available from 11:30
a.m. to 2 p.m. and tea tables from 2
to 4:30 p.m.
Along with gladioli for sale,
crafts and baking will also be avail
able.
Volunteers will be out on that
day selling bouquets for $3.50 or
two for $6.
Orders will be taken by the Blyth
Legion Auxiliary or the Golden
Lantern Restaurant in Brussels.
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