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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-07-05, Page 31STEFFLER-ALCE Mr. & Mrs. Tim Alce of Stratford are pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of their daughter Heather Gayle to John Paul Steffler son of Mr. & Mrs. Joe Steffler a) Seaforth The wedding will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, 1995 at St. James Church, Seaforth "Open reception to follow" FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE DAVISON - BERGSMA Anthony and Jane Davison are pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of their daughter Tricia Lorraine to Richard Bryan son of Bruce and Marie Bergsma The wedding will take place on Saturday, July 15, 1995 at Blyth Christian Reformed Church with reception to follow at Goderich Township Community Centre. SUN. - THURS. 8 •.m. FRI. - THURS. FRI. & SAT. 7 & 9 p.m. Jul 7 - 13 BATMAN FOREVE9 ENDS THURSDAY WHERE YOU ARE THE ENDANGERED SPECIES. CONGO GODER1CH 524-7811 LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-800-255-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1995. PAGE 31. Rehearsals begin E ntertainment for 'Jake's Place' War bride's story finds audience Looking ahead With her play based on her own life experiences about to make its debut in Blyth, playwright Norah Harding will soon be ready to take on some new projects. This Year, Next Year, was a soul searching task for Harding, who felt despite the emotional toll, it was a story that deserved to be told. By Bonnie Gropp Meeting Norah Harding is an enchanting, inspiring experience. The woman whose first play This Year, Next Year is premiering.on Blyth Festival's stage is a charming 71 years old. Born in Bournemouth, England, Harding was one of three spirited sisters, who met and married her husband, a member of the Canadian Army during the war, then came here as a war bride in 1944. • It is this story that unfolds in This Year, Next Year. "It was always something I wanted to do. I thought it would make a good story, and I had tried it as a novella, but it didn't really work." Harding's interest in theatre developed following the death of her husband in 1975. "I owned my own bookkeeping business, but being at home when you work means you don't get out to meet people in the same way. I felt that- I really needed to find something for myself," she said, so she enrolled in acting classes at Fanshawe College. After a time she was encouraged by one of the instructors to go to auditions, which she did. "I got the lead, that was scary, in a one act play by a University professor enti- tled Letter to the Police. It was a rather gory piece and the woman becomes unbalanced at the end. It was not an easy role." After that Harding worked with the London Community Players then with Ingersoll Theatre. About 10 years ago she made the transition to director. "I think it was that that really showed me what direction I should take with my story, that it was a play." The story is about Harding's mother, sisters, aunt and uncle dur- ing the year 1944. "It is about mar- rying in war time and the trials and tribulations that involves. The Canadian Army didn't make it easy, but I think perhaps that was to pro- tect the soldiers." Though the story is "a lot of fun", it is not without its emotional moments, felt possibly most strong- ly by the writer. "It is and has been during readings and rehearsals and will be on opening night, difficult to conceal my emotions. Even when I was writing it was hard at times. It always is when you get doWn and explore the way things were and what you felt." "I think all the soul searching to remember and dredge it up brought some things forward that I had never realized or thought too deeply about." "I think to do this to someone else is an invasion of privacy, but it has to be that way. I didn't realize what it would be like when I first started and I'm glad I didn't or I probably would never have written it." Despite the emotional sacrifice, however, it was a story that Hard- ing felt should be told. "It's a play about ordinary people during the war. There is nothing heroic, they are just carrying on." Adding that Bournemouth saw minimal bombing compared to London, Harding says the war was still a large part of family life., "It affected everyone. There wasn't a family not touched by it. It became the norm, the way life was." Telling the story of a young sol- dier who was knitting baby clothes while sitting in a pub, she said. "He was facing danger every day, yet he was just a young boy. He couldn't have been more than 20. I think he was probably knitting because his nerves were shot to hell. You saw those things and took them in their stride bccause that's what it was all about." Harding wrote the story using the real names of the people involved. "I thought when it was done I'd change them, but it is such a true account of my family, I thought if it never goes on stage it is something they will have. I wrote it for them." Others saw value in the work, however. Each summer Harding attended the Theatre Ontario sum- mer school to keep her skills sharp. It was during one of these occa- sions that she submitted This Year, Next Year to Anne Chislett, a noted playwright, who is dramaturge at Blyth Festival. She liked it and gave it to Artistic Director Janet Amos, Who also saw the potential. A one week workshop was held which developed storylines further and fleshed out some of the charac- ters as well. Harding says she then spent two weeks with Chislett "tearing it apart. It's hard, but I could see the necessity and that what was being done was helping." Acknowledging the English pen- chant for tea provided some light moments during the hard work. "Anne would say, 'It doesn't carry the script along, Norah, just to say let's have a cup of tea,— Harding says. Though the story and events have remained the same, she feels, the time spent on the play produced some worthwhile changes. "It's more finished, tighter." When the "thumbs up" came from Amos saying that the play was now ready for the Blyth Festi- val stage, the feeling, Harding says was "wonderful". Her sense of accomplishment was shared by her family as well. Harding's son (she also has a daughter in Windsor and one in Vancouver), who she says is not one to gush sent her a dozen red roses when he heard the play was going to be produced. Her entire family, including seven grandchil- dren are planning to be with her for opening night, July 19. Though Harding says she has no ideas yet for a new play, "This one is taking up all my thoughts and time right now," she has been encouraged by Amos to start the next one. "They have been so sup- portive here. There are not a lot of theatres that go to the lengths Blyth does to find new plays and help new playwrights." Rehearsals have begun for the next two shows in the Blyth Festival's exciting season of Canadian plays. This Year, Next Year is the story of a mother and her three daughters thriving and surviving in England during the war torn days of World War II. This poignant story written by London, Ontario's Norah Harding, a war bride herself, celebrates the women who survived the war with humour and fortitude. The excellent cast includes the three sisters, Jacklyn Francis as Norah, Sheilah being played by Trish O'Reilly, and Deborah Drakeford creating the role of Ivy. Returning to the Blyth Festival is Barbara Worthy as their mother Maggie. The cast is rounded out with Harry Booker as Uncle Harry, (who shouldn't have a hard time remembering his character's name), and Tedde Moore as the colourful Aunt Girlie. Terry Tweed returns to the Blyth Festival as director with Victoria Wallace designing costumes and set and Lesley Wilkinson designing the lights. Kathryn Davies heads the stage management team with Amanda Holmes as the assistant stage manager. This Year, Next Year opens on July 19 and runs until Aug. 25. Jake's Place has the Blyth Festival's perennial favourite Ted Johns weaving the tale of Jake Palmer as he confronts the hurdles of local politics in his efforts to get a driveway into his farm. Following his acclaimed success as Willis in Ballad for a Rum Runner's Daughter, Michael Healey creates the role of Jake Palmer in this original Canadian play. The rest of the cast includes Anne Anglin as Deidre Munsinger, Randi Helmers as Marian Palmer, Ted Atherton as Bill Hextall, Eric Coates as George Ranford, and Jerry Franken as Bert McGee. Miles Potter directs the production with set and costume design by Glenn Davidson and lighting design by Lesley Wilkinson. Mike Wallace is the stage manager with Blyth newcomer Tanya Greves as apprentice stage manager. Jake's Place opens on July ;6, 1995 and runs until August 26, 1995. Tickets for all of the Blyth Festival's productions are available by calling the box office at (519) 523-9300. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23 - 8 p.m. BLYTH ARENA Tickets: $29.50 ADVANCE $32.00 At the Door Advance Available at: Blyth Legion, Br. 420 • Blyth Decorating, Blyth Goderich Entertainer • Robin Hood Tours - Goderich Ernie King's Music Limited - Wingham • Reddi Chef - Clinton ^' PRODUCED IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE BLYEH LEGION LADIES AUXILIARY "- VISA / MASTERCARD Phone Orders: 1-800-465-7829