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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1995-10-18, Page 27It's not Munsch Anne Elliott, left and Fran Cook have some fun with some of the props to be used in the production Let's Do Munsch which is premiering on the Blyth Festival stage in mid-October. The fundraising show will be enjoyed by thousands of elementary schoolchildren from kindergarten to Grade 6. Women have `Munsch.' fun ntertainment Mirth, mayhem at Playhouse Annual Beef Supper at Blyth Memorial mill Thursday, October 19 5 to 7 p.m. Adults $9 Children 12 & under $4 Preschoolers - Free Sponsored by Trinity Anglican Church //WALK', Fri. -Thurs. Fri. & Sat. 6:45 & 9 pm Sun. - Thurs. 8 pm UM INSTANCE? CALL 1-100-255-3431 FON TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO THIS FRIDAY — OCT 20 CBS Recording Artist BARNEY BENTALL AND THE LEGENDARY HEARTS with special guest THE RUSH EXCLUSIVE REGIONAL APPEARANCE! 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Ph:* 348-8492 * **** ***** ** 111$ * * * * * * * * * * A * * * * * * * * * THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1995. PAGE 27. By Bonnie Gropp Take a well-known children's author, a talented crew and colour- ful sets and you have the Blyth Centre for the Arts production Let's Do Munsch!!!. Live performances are nothing new at Blyth Festival, but there's something very special about this one. Not only does it offer what kids love most, music, puppets and action, but it is trying to reach as many of them as possible. The idea, a brainchild of Festival board director Duncan McGregor, involves community people who help out voluntarily both behind the scenes and on the stage. Last year was the first time for the project; the staging of Peter and the Wolf was attended by just under 5,000 students. Fran Cook, who has been co- ordinating the school performances of Munsch says this production provides an excellent opportunity to get young people into the the- atre. "It was surprising last year how many thought they were com- ing to see a movie. Anne Elliott, who is appearing in this year's show and acted in last year's adds, "I had several children ask me where the screen was." Response to this year's show has been tremendous, Cook says. "Originally it was going to run, Oct. 24, 25, 26, but those booked immediately. We added shows on the Monday and Friday, which also booked right away." Shows have now been added on Saturday and the following Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. At last count 5,888 seats have been sold. In addition to Huron students there are also children attending performances from schools outside the county. Teachers of the classes coming to see Munsch have received a hand- book, designed by volunteer Mari- an Doucette, which provides a brief outline of the production and offers puppets and craft ideas for each play."If the teacher uses it the kids will be better informed of what's going to happen on the stage," Cook says. Geared for students from kinder- garten to Grade 6 Munsch is a com- pilation of six stories by Robert Munsch — Angela's Airplane, 50 Below Zero, Mortimer, Murmel, Murmel, Murmel, Mud Puddle and The set design, which was pro- fessionally built for this year's show, will be something Elliott says the young theatre-goers should find interesting. "We actually make an airplane right on stage." Some- thing they practise with precision- like detail over and over again. "They'll only take 30 seconds to a minute on stage, but it's taken hours to get it down," says Cook. Both women admit that being involved in this production is almost worth the sacrifice it makes on family time. "I just keep telling myself it's only for a month and a half then life is back to normal," Cook says. "It's fun, it really is. It's so excit- ing when you see the kids reaction to something, when they under- stand something you were trying to get across," says Elliott. "There is a very different feel with each show. The audience responds differently and it's a very positive experience." With the children's series no longer a fall event at the Festival the opportunity to expose young- sters to' live theatre is something each of these women consider valu- able. "Seeing a live performance is a very real thing for young children," says Cook. "It is a good experi- ence." Elliott, who finds it relaxing to visit with the children before the performance says, "It puts (the the- atre) on a personal level. They talk to me, then see me on stage. It's great for kids to be able to use this facility. It is a benefit to have it." Music, mirth and mayhem will be on the Main Stage throughout the summer of 1996 as the Huron County Playhouse celebrates its 25th season from June 11 to Aug. 31. Following the Playhouse's formu- la for success: two musicals, a comedy, a mystery and a farce, the plays for the Silver Anniversary season have been chosen carefully to reflect the best in the theatre's programming over the 25 years. Set to be the best of the best, the 1996 season begins and ends with big book musicals, Annie and Me and My Girl. Each play features lots of kids and is great for the whole family to enjoy. Rounding out the season will be Neil Simon's Rumors, Tim Kelly's Hounds of the Baskervilles and a British farce, Funny Money, by Ray Cooney. Because of last year's outstanding success, each show played to no less than 80 per cent houses with My Fair Lady topping 100 per cent, the Playhouse's Public Relations Director John McHenry encourages subscribing early. Information can be obtained by calling the box office at 1-800-706- 6665 or 519-238-6000. Millicent and the Wind. It is direct- ed by McGregor with music by Arlene Dambrough. "The music is the big difference between this year's production and Peter," says Elliott. "There is a lot more. In addition to Elliott, whose biggest role in the production is "Mud Puddle", ("It's the dirtiest job I've ever had") McGregor and Darnbrough, there are four other volunteer actors in the show, Kira Stuckey, Erin Roulston and Zoey, Cappy and Teuguen Onn. The board members have also been actively involved in the work doing such behind the scenes work as design and carpentry. Doucette has been making puppets, including a life-size baby for Murmel that has taken her over 80 hours to com- plete. "We can hardly wait to see it," says Cook. Helen Gowing took on the chal- lenging task of making the "Mud Puddle" costume, while Don McAffrey has served as an all- round handyman. With so many people using their considerable gifts, it is not easy to single out one person, but Cook and Elliott readily sing praises for the person they see as the star of Munsch. "This is really a good project for Duncan," says Cook. "He is so tal- ented." Elliott says that McGregor works diligently to keep the production moving even during the many changeovers. "You have to keep things going. You don't want to lose the kids attention."