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Rated PG
HELD OVER-3rd WEEK
Two shows (Fri. & Sat.)
at 7 & 9 pm
Sunday Tuesday, Wed.,
Thursday, 8 pm,
closed Monday
Coming Soon:
Mission Impossible
357-1630
Jack Kroll, NEWSWEEK
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1996 PAGE 23.
F4 ntertainment `Barndance Live'
has local talent
Theatre review
Stratford's 'Music Man' magic
Weaving his spell
"Madam Librarian, what can I do my dear; to catch your ear?" In Act 1, scene 7 of the
Stratford Festival's The Music Man Dirk Lumbard as the fasting talking Professor Harold Hill
continues his dogged pursuit of the staid Miss Paroo, the River City librarian/ piano teacher.
The Music Man which is as charming as its enigmatic lead has performances until Nov. 3.
By Bonnie Gropp
Any good salesperson will have
you hooked before you even know
they're fishing. Such is the case
with the Stratford Festival produc-
tion of The Music Man, Meredith
Wilson's story of a travelling sales-
man who charms a small Iowa
town.
There is an insouciant warmth
about this play, a blanket of sim-
plistic values and carefree fun that
wraps around you and draws you
into its homey aura. Before you
know it you are part of River City,
this collection of earthy characters
and oddballs who typify the small-
town middle America of the 1900s.
The cast playing this assortment
of eccentrics and enchanters are
nothing less than remarkable. In
the bridge of talent, from bit player
to star, there is not a weak spot.
In her debut on the Stratford
stage, June Crowley as the reserved
unmarried librarian/piano teacher is
wonderful. A Michelle Pfeiffer
look-alike, she has the gentle beau-
ty that makes you believe she could
tame the worldly Professor Harold
Hill, and a voice that would stop
the birds from singing so they
could listen.
Dirk Lumbard, who claimed the
role of the amiable Hill, after Jeff
Hyslop pulled out in January has
that special charisma that makes his
role as the less-than-scrupulous
pitchman, totally believable. As a
song-and-dance man, he handles
the often challenging score and
routines with dazzling ability.
The chemistry between Hill and
Miss Paroo is an essential element
of this story as the stereotype of the
spinster swept off her feet by a
devil-may-care rogue might other-
wise suffer in the age of emancipa-
tion. Fortunately, the current flows
between Crowley and Lumbard in
every scene in which they appear
together. When she meets him on
the footbridge at her mother's urg-
ing, she admits she has uncovered
his lie. Hill, who sells musical
instruments, has promised parents
as a condition of sale that he will
transform the local youths into a
band. Paroo knows its a scam, that
Hill does not have any musical
ability, but tells him that he has still
brought music to River City. The
look of wonder on his face, added
to her passionate rendering of the
timeless Till There was You, left
theatre-goers breathless.
As the townspeople catch on to
his scam Hill knows he should flee
but such unconditional love and
faith has caused him some conster-
nation. Once arrested the town's
boys come to his rescue and,
inspired by their faith they play an
almost recognizable piece of music.
Hill's revolutionary "Think Sys-
tem" ("If they think they can play,
they can.") has finally paid off.
Also noteworthy in the cast are
Eric Donkin as the suspicious,
grammatically challenged Mayor
Shinn, Jacqueline Blais as Mrs.
Paroo, Danny Austin as the ruffian
Tommy Djilas, Cara Hunter as
Zanceta Shinn and the inimitable
Karen K. Edissi providing comic
relief as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn,
wife of the mayor.
Child stars Jonathan Wexler, as
the lisping Winthrop Paroo and
Marisa McIntyre as Amaryllis have
the poise and talent to hold their
own with this topnotch cast.
The score of The Music Man , in
addition to containing some of the-
atres most memorable tunes, is an
intricate melding of a variety of
styles from barbershop, to
vaudeville, to marches and ballads.
Many, with their fast delivery and
chatty lyrics, such as the recogniz-
able Trouble in River City certain-
ly prove, if there was any doubt,
the ability of these performers.
Brian MacDonald has directed
with a light touch; there is nothing
showy or elaborate about this pro-
duction. It is true to the time and to
its values. The choreography, also
by MacDonald, is lively, but not
boisterous, costumes, by Debra
Hanson attractive, but simple.
Meredith Wilson, an Iowa native,
gave us the story of a small dour
stubborn town brought to life by a
spellbinder. It is about the power
of commitment, love and faith —
and music. Stratford Festival
brought its magic to us.
STAG & DOE
for
LESLIE GOLL &
SCOTT JOHNSTON
Saturday, June 15/96
Brussels Arena
Music by D.J.
Dance 9 - 1
Lunch Provided
$5.00 per person
Buck and Doe
for
Susan Elston
and
Jamie Robinson
Saturday, June 22, 1996
Wingham Arena
9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Lunch Provided
Tickets $5.00
Age of Majority
If you think you recognize
someone from your hometown
performing in Barndance Live! on
the Blyth stage this season, chances
are you do.
An overwhelming response to a
request for local talent to audition
for director Paul Thompson in early
May, resulted in an extra night of
auditions being added to the two
nights already planned. "With the
amount of talent responding, we
could have seen people for a week
but there were only so many places
for them in the show," said
Thompson.
As a result of these very
successful auditions, each
performance of Barndance Live!
will feature at least one local act of
some kind - from dancers and
singers to musicians and even a
mentalist!
Local performers will include
Chris Mabb and Randy Satchell,
both of Mitchell; Marjorie Johns of
Exeter; Betty (Beer) Jinks of
Hensall; Cheryl Adair and Kim
Souch, both of Seaforth; Arlene
Darnborough and Jenna Ujiye, both
of Goderich; Leona Konings of
Ethel; Joe Chatterton of Blyth; Kira
Stuckey of Wingham; Norman
Barlow of Clinton; Betty-Anne
Bray of Walkerton; Arthur Warren
of St. Marys; groups like the Onn
children (Cappy, Zoey and Teague)
from Blyth and the Three Little
Maids of Blyth (Christa Cameron,
Maija Saari and Linda Hearn); and
step dancers like Melissa Hart and
Kennedy Baker (The Step Sisters)
and Jessie Connolly, all of Clinton,
and Family Ties and New
Horizons, all of Mitchell. Some of
these performers may be in more
than one show.
BUCK & DOE
for
CRYSTAL WHYTE
BEN DRISCOLL
Friday, June 14th, 1996
Music by D.J. Age of Majority
Tickets: $5.00 Lunch Provided
per person
For Info: 527-0349
or
887-6402
GODERICH
524-7811
LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-800-26
There will also be six special
performances of Barndance Live!
which will include a public dance
afterwards. These Formosa Springs
Dances, sponsored by The North-
ern Algonquin Brewing Company
Limited, will feature one of two
groups from Stratford: Circle of
Friends and The Chuckwagon
Gang. They will perform music
similar to the real barn dances of
the 1950s.
The Barndance Live! company
will also perform music in
costumes from the show at these
dances. They will be held June 28
and July 12 and 20 at the Blyth Inn
and on July 3, 9, and 17 in the
lower hall of Blyth Memorial
Community Hall.
For tickets to Barndance Live! or
any of the Festival's other
productions, call (519) 523-9300.
The season opens June 21 and the
plays run in repertory until Aug.
31. The 1996 season supporter is
du Maurier Arts. Barndance Live!
is sponsored by CKNX 920.
CAPITOL
THEATRE
291-3070
All Seats $4.25
LISTOWEL
• Dolby Surround Sound Stereo
HELD OVER
June 14 - 20
7 & 9:15
Mission Impossible
PG (violence)
2nd
WEEK
FRI. - THURS.
JUNE 14 - 20
FRI. & SAT. 7 & 9 PM
SUN. - THURS. 8 PM
the movie's climactic set piece is
one of the best of alt train chases."