HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-06-14, Page 23<,-
A good time
The Boy Friend now at Stratford's Avon Theatre is an evening of good-hearted fun. Set on
the French Riviera in the 1920s it is a story of young love and love rekindled. Here, Douglas
Chamberlain as the frisky Lord Brockhurst, gets a warning form his wife, portrayed by Lee
MacDougall as he flirts with ingenues, from left: Amy Walsh, Blythe Wilson and Carolyn
Lupien.
Theatre review
Avon's 'Boy Friend' good fun
Carl, John & Murray,
with their family
invite you
to an
OPEN HOUSE
In honour
of their parents'
Evelyn & David Gibb
"GOLDEN WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY"
Sunday, June 18, 1995
Whitechurch Community
Hall
Whitechurch, Ontario
2 - 5 p.m.
Your presence Is the
greatest gilt of all
50th Wedding
Anniversary
KRAUTER
We are celebrating our 50th
Wedding Anniversary on
June 18th. Come and Join
us for tea from 2 - 4 p.m. In
the lower level of Melville
Presbyterian Church. No
gifts please. We would like
just a happy memory of your
smiles and look forward to
seeing you.
Cal and Marguerite Krauter
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1995. PAGE 23
E ntertainment
Blyth Fest. plans
youth workshops
By Bonnie Gropp
When it comes to The Boy
Friend fun is one of the words that
definitely comes to mind.
With an enthusiastic cast and
energetic choreography, this Strat-
ford Avon Theatre production, is a
carefree, vibrant show, a combina-
tion perfect enough to lighten any
heart.
The Boy Friend, written by
Sandy Wilson in the 50s, made its
debut on Broadway starring the
incomparable Julie Andrews. It is a
simple tale of love that attracts you
not for its intelligent plot line or
inspiring dialogue, but rather for its
sheer entertainment value.
The story begins on no less
romantic z spot in no less romantic
a time than the French Riviera in
the 1920s. The girls of Madame
Dubonnet's finishing school are
giddy with anticipation over the
upcoming carnival ball. That is,
with the exception of Polly
Browne, a lonely young heiress
who tries to compensate for her
father's protection from fortune
hunters by creating an imaginary
beau.
As her father Percival is expect-
ed to visit, Madame Dubonnet has
promised to speak with him on Pol-
ly's behalf. Before his arrival Polly
becomes enamoured with a young
messenger named Tony, who actu-
ally turns out to be the errant son of
Lord Brockhurst and his wife.
When Percival arrives, his atten-
tions is easily diverted by the play-
ful Dubonnet, who is amused to
discover this is the young soldier
she spent a romantic evening with
years before in Paris.
Her spirited nature delights in
trying to loosen the inhibitions that
have bound this solemn version of
the man she remembers. Their
provocative glance towards a love
seat as they depart after one scene
suggests that passion and love are
not exclusive to the young.
Meanwhile as Dubonnet and Per-
cival become re-aquainted, the
young couple tries to untangle the
white lies that almost separate them
while the other girls of the finishing
school with their beaux, enjoy life
and the pleasures of being young
and carefree.
Music lovers will be delighted;
The Boy Friend is a song a minute,
chock full of catchy tunes which
are representative of many different
styles.
The choreography by Donna
Feore and Timothy French is imag-
inative and exhilarating; it leaves
you breathless just watching.
Director Brian MacDonald plays
it for laughs throughout without
carrying it too far. Though the
characterizations may be exagger-
ated they do not cross the line to
ridiculous caricature.
The cast are excellent musical
performers who appear to be hav-
ing as much fun with the show as
they are providing for the audience.
Stratford newcomer Patty Jamieson
has a soprano that is reminiscent of
that earlier ingenue, Andrews,
Stag & Doe
for
Kim Fritz
Ron Strome
Friday, June 16
B.M. & G Community
Centre
D.J. - Verne Bridge
Age of majority required
For more information
call 887-6715
while Jan Simpson portrays Tony
with the same kind of awkward
charm as Hugh Grant in Four Wed-
dings and a Funeral .
Karen K. Edissi as Dubonnet is a
delight with her larger than life
voice that slips from comedic to
classical tones with ease. When she
sings the You Don't Want to Play
with me blues, you really have to
wonder how Percival, portrayed
with wonderful British stiffness by
Eric ,Donkin, could stay serious so
long.
Douglas Chamberlain as Lord
Brockhurst is a lovable "dirty old
man", while Lee MacDougall in
drag as his wife is an amusing
antithesis.
The young ladies and men played
by Frances Chiappetta, Allison
Grant, Cara Hunter, Blythe Wilson,
Phillip Hughes, Jeffrey Prentice
and Robert Yeretch bring energy to
their roles as do the remaining cast
members.
Quite simply, if things are start-
ing to get you down, and you're
looking for something refreshing,
you "need to have that certain thing
called The Boy Friend."
It's summer again and the Blyth
Festival is in full swing gearing up
for the 1995 season. Once again the
Festival is busy organizing for the
Children's Drama Workshops and
The Young Company.
The Young Company perform-
ances have always been one of the
highlights of our summer season,
and we are very excited about this
year's upcoming production Hee
Hee: Tales from the White Moun-
tain by M.J. Kang - a journey
through the magical stories and the
beautiful country of Korea. Korean
fairy tales and legends will be
brought to life with music, story,
mask and movement.
Rehearsals start Monday, July 10
and run through to mid-August.
Performances are from Aug. 15 to
19, at 7:30 p.m.
The Children's Drama Workshop
will be led again this year by
Rachel Thompson. Classes run
from Thursday, June 29 to Friday,
July 7, Saturday and Sundays
excepted. There will be a perform-
ance for all parents on Saturday,
July 8.
Registration forthe classes will
take place on Wednesday, June 28
at the Garage on Dinsley St. in
Blyth - five to eight-year-olds
9 a.m. to 12 noon and nine to 12-
year-olds from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Festival is also looking for
two or three members of the 1995
Young Company who might be
interested in getting involved with
the Children's Workshops. Rachel
Thompson and Jimmy Simon are
going to need some help, and will
be talking to prospective Young
company members at the inter-
views. There will be a small
financial token of appreciation.
For anyone interested in teaching
and in children, this could be
stimulating and an exciting way to
spend one to two weeks before the
Young Company starts its own
work.
HAPPY "BELATED"
BIRTHDAY
Matthew George
Townsend
The Co-Founder of
Londesboro
"Bottoms" Cafe
June 2
LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-800- 5-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO
Fri., Sat., Sun. & Tues 7 & 9:10 pm
Mon., Wed. & Thurs. 8 PM
Sun. Mat; nee 2 PM
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