Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-10-11, Page 23Grand performances Tanja Jacobs and John Jarvis perform in Later Life by A.R. Gurney, which opened Oct. 3 at The Grand Theatre in London. Also starring are Goldie Semple and Gary Reineke. Photo by Elisabeth Feryn, Stratford I love livery Single 'IllingAbout It!" -Marvelmts. A Very Special i,mhs Ip!' OPERATION MIRO DROP FRI. & SAT. OCT. 13 & 14 7 PM ONLY ALL SEATS $4.00 ice, CLOUDS FRI. & SAT. 9 PM ONLY SUN. - THURS. 8 PM PRESENTS Two FREE Guest Speaker entures Workshops in October: October 12, 7:30 pm: Customer Service with Nancy Ross at the Clinton OMAFRA office. October 27, 7:30 pm: Doing What You Love, Knowing Your Strengths with Cora Wittington at Trinity United Church in Listowel. Others coming in November. Call 1-800-790-9949 for details. ar LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-800-265-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1995. PAGE 23. Young musicians pass examinations By Keith Roulston In a society where it is increas- ingly convenient to see ourselves as victims, when it comes to relation- ships we are often our own worst enemies. A. J. Gurney's comedy Later Life, which opened at London's Grand Theatre on Friday night shows it is often our own weak- nesses and hang-ups that plague us in trying to build meaningful, long- lasting relationships by portraying two people, alone in middle age, trying to reach out to each other. Ruth (Goldie Semple), is a three- times divorced woman, estranged from her husband, who comes to Boston looking for a new start. That new start may include an old memory. As a young woman visit- ing Capri she had met a dashing American naval officer. She was Raffle winners During the Blyth Festival's summer season, a fundraising raffle was implemented featuring tickets to five South Western Ontario theatre companies. Saturday, Sept. 30 was the last chance to buy Great Canadian Theatre Raffle tickets. The following people were drawn as winners of the raffle prizes: first prize, Bill Rahbek of Goderich; second, Nancy Brown of Lucknow; third, Ross Hamilton of Wingham; fourth, Sheila Alton of London; fifth, Brian Baker of Clinton. swept off her feet by him but he wouldn't pursue the relationship because he had a premonition something dreadful was going to happen to him. The young naval officer is now successful banker Austin (Gary Reineke) who has returned to his hometown, married then divorced. Now they have met again on the terrace of a harbour-side condo- minium, at a party where mutual friends have brought them together. The play involves their rediscovery of the past he has forgotten, their pulling together the threads of the intervening years and their struggle to see if they have a future together. Each is the captive of his/her own personality. Ruth has been impulsive, wanting to be carried away by the man (men?) of her dreams. Austin, inheritor of cen- turies of puritan blood, is polite to a fault, afraid to seize an opportunity such as the one Ruth presents. Their conversation is interrupted by party guests who keep coming out to the terrace. All the partygo- ers are played by just two actors who change costumes, wigs and personalities at will. The men are played by a face familiar to those who have attended the Blyth and Stratford festivals over the years: John Jarvis. Jarvis brings a quick, nervous energy to his roles and an even quicker wit. Whether he's a nervous man trying to convince himself to stop smoking or an old friend of Austin's pleading his case to Ruth, he gives each character a distinct personality. Tanja Jacobs, playing all the women, also man- ages to give distinction o each char- acter. Still, fun as it is to see the actors change personalities, their entrances are often jarring, as if Gurney was looking for a way to keep Ruth and Austin off-balance when they were getting closer to understanding. Too seldom are these characters integral to the development of plot or character. Semple, a veteran of Stratford, is perfectly charming as Ruth. Though in "later life" now, she has such an attraction that it's hard to imagine Austin resisting no matter how unable to take risks he is. Reineke, who has won a Genie award for film, has appeared on dozens of TV shows and on theatre stages across Canada, just seems wrong for Austin. His portrayal of the stiff Austin seems — well, too stiff, and too much like acting. He doesn't seem to live in the prim world of a Boston banker but to put it on like a shirt with a too-tight collar. If he can relax a bit as the run of the play goes on (it contin- ues until Oct. 21), the whole pro- duction will benefit. It's a short play with one 90- minute act and no intermission. For those of us who have a drive home, getting out at 9:30 can be a wel- come attraction. Despite the short- comings in the script and the casting, the trip to see Later Life is still worthwhile. Congratulations go out to the following students who tried music exams with the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music during 1995. Winter and summer sessions in piano were held in Wingham and theory sessions in Londesboro. Their teacher is Gail Lear, A. Mus., RMT of Londesboro. Special congratulations should be given to Valerie VanRiesen of Clinton who completed her Grade 10 Piano with a mark of 86. Valerie will receive a scholarship from the Hanover-Walkerton Registered Music Teacher's Association for obtaining the highest mark in the branch for 1995. She also finished her Grade 4 Harmony, as well as becoming an Ontario Scholar. All the best Valerie, as you go on to further education in Toronto. Congratulations also to Lesley Pike of Wingham who will receive the scholarship from the ORMT - Hanover-Walkerton Branch for the highest mark in Grade 9 Piano with a mark of 83. Piano results - Grade 10, Valerie Experience the true spirit of Halloween at Fanshawe Pioneer Village's third annual Haunted Village Hayrides Oct. 13-14, 20-21 and 27-30. Hayrides begin at 7 p.m. and the last group of rides will leave between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tickets must be purchased at The Grand Theatre box office by 5 p.m. on the day of the event. Telephone orders will be accepted by calling 672-8800. The Village will work with over 100 Oakridge Secondary School drama students to transform the site into a "haunted village". Visitors will be taken on a 35 minute wagon ride that stops at eight different locations situated throughout the Village. At each stop, Oakridge students will put on a short performance designed to entertain, intrigue and VanRiesen, Clinton, 1st class honours; Grade 9, Lesley Pike, Wingham, 1st class honours, Karen Trick, Londesboro (1st part) honours, Rowan Kerr, Belgrave (1st part) honours; Grade 8, Mary Lisle, Wingham, 1st class honours, Marlana Roy, Clinton, honours, Julie Lisle, Wingham, honours, Cindy Gibbings, Clinton, honours, Krista Black, Clinton, honours, Emily Parr, Clinton, honours; Grade 6, Craig Fair, Bluevale, honours, Rachel Bylsma, Blyth. Theory results - Grade 4 Har- mony, Valerie VanRiesen, Clinton; Grade 3, Harmony, Andrea Postma, Clinton, honours, Maria Gibbons, Wingham, honours, Stacey Buffinga, Clinton; Grade 3 History, Rowan Kerr, Belgrave, 1st class honours, Cindy Gibbings, Clinton; Grade 2 Rudiments, Janet Bosma, Blyth, 1st class honours with distinction, Emily Parr, Clinton, 1st class honours with distinction, Mary Lisle, Wingham, 1st class honours, Julie Lisle, Wingham, 1st class honours. scare even the calmest of visitors. Performances are suitable for people of all ages. Haunted Village Hayrides has been a tremendous success in the past few years. It has become a community event attracting large numbers of families and students. Based on last year's attendance over 8,000 people are expected over the three weekends. Visitors should plan to come early or stay later for dinner and/or refreshments available in the parking lot. Proceeds from Haunted Village Hayrides support the ongoing restoration of Fanshawe Pioneer Village and the Drama Club at Oakridge Secondary School. Fanshawe Pioneer Village is located off Fanshawe Park Road, just east of Clarke Road. E ntertainment Theatre review Play stresses human foibles 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY The children of Albert and Jean Cook invite you to join them in the celebration of their parents' 50 th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 15,1995 at an Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Institute Hall in Belgrave Best Wishes Only Please Pioneer village hosts haunted hayrides