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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1994. PAGE 23.
‘Comedyof Errors’
at Patterson theatre
Blyth Young Company does
‘Our Parents Made Us Do It’
by Bonnie Gropp
There is no question that the
young actors involved in this year's
Blyth Festival Young Company are
having a great time. What the adult
audience will think of their perfor
mance My Parents Made Me Do It,
is anyone's guess.
Director Stephen Seabrook said
that the antipathy youths often feel
for the older generation has come
out in the play through the
rehearsal process. "The rebellion
and hostility in the play towards
parents presented an opportunity
that the actors were quite enthusias
tic about."
The young people, ages 13-20,
however, seem oblivious to any
thing so intense, remarking instead
on the humour and the unique
learning experience the summer
program has provided. They refer
to the play as not being a story, but
human cartoons in different situa
tions.
Mr. Seabrook and his co-director
Richard Feren, who both hail from
Toronto, have introduced the young
actors to innovative and avant-
garde theatre, sometimes to the
consternation of the parents. An
original plan for one of the direc
tors to appear in a scene wearing
only a G-string, has been cut after
parental protest.
Rumours of other risque scenes
and ribald remarks have also
caused a stir. "The title (referring to
how the parents made them spend
the summer in this theatre work
shop) is kind of the exact opposite
of what has really happened," said
Erin Roulston, 14 of Blyth.
Erin, along with three other area
young people, have found this sum
mer's program to be very ambi
tious. "It has been much more work
than other seasons," says Cappy
Onn, 14, of Blyth, "but it's been a
lot of fun."
Kendra Folkard, 13 of the Bel
grave area seems surprised by all
the controversy, saying she couldn't
see why the play would offend any
one. "A five-year-old and the moth
er were here for a rehearsal and
Kinderfest at
Schneider Haus
In recognition of the Interna
tional Year of the Family, Joseph
Schneider Haus Museum has
planned an interesting day of
discovery for children and their
families, Kinderfest! Visitors are
invited to try their hand at tree or
fence weaving, go back in time and
play 90th Century games, partici
pate in a garden mystery or sit back
and enjoy a production of Punch
and Judy.
Throughout the day visitors can
also visit the historic house where
the/ Schneiders will be busy pick
ling and drying various vegetables
in preparation for the winter
months.
As a special treat, Dr. Hezekiah
Q. Rumpott will be at Kinderfest
with his travelling magical medi
cine show.
Kinderfest will begin at 10 a.m.
and run until 5 p.m. on Saturday,
Aug. 20. Regular admission rates
apply, however, children under 12
will be admitted free. The museum
is located at 466 Queen Street
South, Kitchener. Free parking is
available directly across the street
from the museum.
they liked it," she said.
Kendra, who is spending her first
season with the Young Company is
finding it very interesting, and
though she has been part of theatre
experiences before, says she has
never seen anything quite like this
production.
Erin, who is in her second year
with the Young Company, agrees
saying that the play really has no
clear message. "We leave it up to
your imagination."
"It is something that has never
been attempted before by a Blyth
young company," said Cappy. "It's
so different and I think people will
come to see it because it's different
and will find they like it."
Her sister, Zoey, 15, who with
Cappy has spent two summers in
young company workshops, admits
that Blyth may not be ready for this
type of produciton. "But, I think it’s
going to be a good show. You
should always be ready to try
something new."
Though Mr. Seabrook provided
the structure for the play, the young
actors were given the opportunity
to express themselves through the
play. "The logic was that the play
could re-invent itself. The mandate
has to come from them."
"To me it was important to get
the integrity of their own ideas and
the project. I don't profess to be a
teacher, but rather I facilitated an
experience that might help them
grow," he said.
The opening night performance
of William Shakespeare's The
Comedy of Errors will take place at
Stratford's Tom Patterson Theatre
on Thursday, Aug. 4, 1994 at 7:30
p.m. This hilarious contemporary
comedy sees two sets of identical
twins separated, then reunited by
chance, resulting in sheer confusion
and delightful nonsense.
The Comedy of Errors is directed
by Richard Rose, with design by
Teresa Przybylski, lighting design
by Kevin Fraser, sound design by
Jim Stewart, choreography by
fusan MacKenzie and fight
direction by John Stead.
The Stratford Festival production
of The Comedy of Errors features
1994 Young Company members
including Tim Barker as
Officcr/Jailor, Kevin Bundy as
Antipholus of Syracuse, Steve Cell
as a Merchant, Jonathan Crombie
as Antipholus of Ephesus, Philippa
Domville as Luciana, Sabrina
Grdevich as Courtesan, David
Jansen as Angelo, Tom McCamus
as Dromio of Syracuse, Kristina
Nicoll as Adriana, Duncan
Ollerenshaw as Balthasar/Doctor
Pinch/Hcadsman, Stephen
Ouimette as Dromio of Ephesus
and Jane Spidell as Qucc/Court
Reporter.
Also featured in the production
are Ken James as Solinus, Michael
Mawson as /Egeon and Janet
Wright as /Emilia.
The Comedy of Errors runs from
Tuesday, Aug. 2, to Sunday,
Sept. 18.
Moliere’s ‘School’
at Festival theatre
Misery loves company
Kendra Folkard, of the Belgrave area, seated, and Erin
Roulston of Blyth, kneeling,with two friends from the Blyth
Festival Young Company take a mild beating in this scene
from the production Our Parents Made Us Do It, which is
being presented this week at the Festival Garage.
Performances are at 9 p.m. through the week and at 7 and
11 on Friday and Saturday.
CBuc/^dr' (Doe
for
CHRIS SMITH &
SHELLY O'BRIEN
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27,1994
Brussels Community Centre
(Music by D.J.)
Dancing 9 p.m. • 1 a.m.
Lunch Provided
Tickets $5.00 per person
Age of Majority
for more Information: 887-9827
Open Jfouse
in honour of
EDITH GARNISS’S
80TH BIRTHDAY
Sunday, August 21
2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Bluevale Community Hall
Best Wishes Only
Moliere's comic double bill, The
School for Husbands and The
Imaginary Cuckold, translated by
Richard Wilbur, opened at
Stratford's Festival Theatre on
Friday, Aug. 5, at 7:30 p.m. These
farcical comedies explore the
daring deceits and fortuitous
misconceptions that conspire to
unite true lovers.
The School for Husbands and
The Imaginary Cuckold is directed
by Michael Langham, with set
design by Douglas Stein, costume
design by Ann Hould-Ward music
by Stanley Silversman, lighting
design by Michael J. Whitfield and
choreography by Kelly Amsby.
The 1994 production of The
School for Husbands and The
Imaginary Cuckold features Brian
Bedford as Sganarclle, Olivia
Birkelund as Isabclle/Celie's Maid,
Martha Bums as Leonor, Richard
Curnock as Ergaste/Villcbrequin,
Marion Day as Cclie, Colm Fcorc
as Valdre/L<51ic, Tim MacDonald as
Notary/Rclativc, Barry MacGregor
as Magistrate/Gros-Rend, Roberta
Maxwell as Liscttc/Sganarcllc's
Wife, Nicholas Pennell as
Ariste/Gorgibus, John Watson as
Servant and Margaret Gay, Stephen
Green and Patricia Mullen as
Musicians.
Congratulations
on your
30th Wedding
Anniversary
Lee & Lila Rintoul
on August 21
Love from, Carol & Steve, Travis &
Tyler, Kim & Bruce & Debbie & John
I LYCEUM THBATRB
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