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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-03-19, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1997 A sneak preview At a preview evening last Thursday, guests and media were given a sneak peak at this season's Blyth Festival line-up. Performing a scene from Quiet in the Land, are, from left: Erin Roulston, Artistic Director Janet Amos and Floyd Herman. Amos excited about season Wedding adventure at Blyth The Blyth Festival cordially invites you to the wedding of Gail Gunderson and Brad Underwood on the Blyth Memorial Community Hall stage May 2 and 3. And you can bet theirs will be no ordinary ceremony! The happy couple's big day is the theme for Gail and Brad's Marvellous Wedding Adventure, the Festival's latest mystery dinner/theatre offering brought to you by the same zany folks who staged last year's popular production Come Back to the Gym Mary Lou, Mary Lou. Under the watchful eye of Rev. Father Doug Gravely, the anxious bride and groom gather together with the strangest cast of wedding characters ever assembled. There's a wedding gift nobody can afford, a cellular phone that can't be put on hold, and a family lawyer with a briefcase full of trouble. Guests can enjoy the tunes of hearing impaired organist Mabel Mirshum and the musical antics of Blyth's very own Nasty Habits, who also act as ushers. Written by Rob Bundy, with musical arrangements by Arlene Darnbrough, Gail and Brad's Marvellous Wedding Adventure combines the talents of the Mary Lou cast and crew with a few newcomers. Duncan McGregor does double duty as director and troubled father of the bride, Floyd Herman is Father Gravely, Anne Elliott is the incontinent Granny Greta Metro, Kira Stuckey is beautiful bride Gail, Paul Ciufo is her handsome groom Brad, Gary Haist is the bumbling best man, Kathleen Babcock is the high strung maid of honor, Carol Oriold is the oft-married, soon-to-be mother-in-law, Kim Souch is the church choir’s pride and joy, David Scott is a very inexpensive photographer, and Arlene Darnbrough is Mabel, the organist whose eclectic music includes everything from gospel to rock. It's a matrimonial "marry-go- round" of ringing proportions. Will they tie the knot? Will they live happily ever after? Come and find out for yourself. The wedding dinner commences at 6 p.m. with show (ceremony) at 8 p.m. Tickets for the dinner and show are $25; show only $15. They can be purchased through the Blyth Festival Box Office (523-9300) or at one of the following ticket outlets: Bluewater Office Equip­ ment (Wingham), Campbell's Photography (Goderich), Carol's Candies and Collectables (Blyth), or Crossroads Gifts (Clinton). Saying she had mixed feelings about leaving the Blyth Festival after this summer's season, Janet Amos told a group of theatre friends and the media, Thursday night, about the six plays she has selected for her final season. "I'm very excited about the sea­ son, excited about the plays, excit­ ed about the tour (of Barndance Live! in September)," said Amos, "and I'm sorry to be leaving." Amos is entering her fourth season since her return to Blyth to help take the Festival out of danger after it nearly sank under an accumulat­ ed $229,000 operating deficit after the 1993 season. About 40 people attended the season kick-off at the Bainton Gallery. They were treated to read­ ings from several of the plays, per­ formed by Amos and some actors from the community. Anne Elliott of Blyth and former Blyth resident Floyd Herman, per­ formed a scene from the season's fourth play, The Melville Boys. "It's a play I have a great deal of love for," said Amos, recalling she directed the world premiere of the Norm Foster play at Theatre New Brunswick (TNB) when she left Blyth. after serving for five years as artistic director from 1980 through 1984. She recalled how outgoing TNB artistic director Malcolm Black had discovered Foster, a local radio per­ Tickets available by phone Continued from page 1 prizes, and recognition in the event program, are also available. Ticket and donation information is available by contacting the MCF at 335-3557. The Wawanosh Nature Centre provides opportunities for visitors to learn about the environment through hands-on education and recreation programs. Over 5,000 visitors participate in activities al the Nature Centre annually. The Nature Centre is located on Cone. 6-7 (Nature Centre Road) of sonality and produced his first play. He gave Amos the newest Foster script and she loved it, using three actors familiar to Blyth audiences, Robert King, Deborah Kimmctt and Patricia Vanstone. The play went on to tremendous internation­ al success, winning an award for the best play of the year in Los Angeles in 1988. The comedy deals with the rela­ tionship between two brothers and the two sisters they meet at a cot­ tage. Amos performed a scene from Deborah Kimmett's one-woman show Overboard. The comedy is the story of a woman who wins a Caribbean cruise vacation but spends it thinking about her busy life as career woman and mother. This play will be performed in the "Garage" theatre space. Elliott and Herman performed a scene from David Scott's There's Nothing in the Paper, the comic tale of the tribulations of a small town newspaper editor and his bat­ tle with a new rival, a sensational tabloid-style rag that proceeds to ruin the lives of local residents. Il will be the third show of the sea­ son. There will be two collective cre­ ations in the season, a return of Barndance Live! at the end of the season and Booze Days in a Dry County, both created by Paul Thompson and cast members using East Wawanosh Twp. The facility provides activities for students from kindergarten to Grade 10 as well as programs for a wide range of community groups. The MCF has been a major supporter of the Wawanosh Nature Centre since 1984 when the Nature Centre first opened. The Wawanosh Nature Centre is operated by the Mailland Valley Conservation Authority. The MCF is a registered, charitable, non-profit organization that supports conservation projects, being undertaken by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. improvisational techniques. Booze Days in a Dry County is the story of soldiers coming home to western Ontario after seeing a larger world during World War II, only to find out they couldn't even legally get a drink in an area where the Canada Temperance Act had been adopted. The result was the birth of a num­ ber of illegal drinking establish­ ments with colourful names like "The Coughing Cat". Amos said she'd been told there were five such spots in Blyth. "Nobody I've spoken to ever had any direct experience," she said with a laugh, "but they all knew people who did." The hit of the 1996 season, Barn­ dance Live!, the story of the CKNX travelling bam dance, will return in September for a two-wcck run, fol­ lowed by a tour to Shelburne and other locations. The eight-perfor­ mance stay in Shelburne, which will help open a new theatre, already has three sold-oul perfor­ mances. Amos finished with a scene from the play that will open the season, a new production of Quiet in the Land, the play about the conflict within the Amish community dur­ ing World War I when the German­ speaking, pacifist society came under pressure because of society's feelings about the war. Premiered in Blyth in 1981, the play went on to national acclaim and won the Governor General's Award for author Anne Chislett in 1983. It tells the story of two Amish families, one headed by a very strict patriarch, the other more tol­ erant in its views. "There's a whole generation of people who have never seen it," Amos said of the play. She per­ formed a scene from the play with Herman and Erin Roulston. The Festival Box Office opens to members April 1 and to the general public April 14. Hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until May 30. Starling May 31, it will also be open Saturdays until 5 p.m. From June 17 to Sept. 10, it is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except non-performance days when it closes al 5 p.m.). LHEALTH on the H1LLj A Review of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL We are happy to welcome Rev. Chen DiNovo to Seaforth Community Hospital Volunteer Pastoral Program. Rev. DiNovo is pastor of the Kippen/Brucefield United Churches. We look forward to our relationship in the coming months. In addition to regular visitation from participating clergy on a rotation volunteer basis, a Worship Service is offered monthly. OB PRE-ADMIT CLINIC if you are an expectant Mom 34-38 weeks pregnant and planning to deliver at Seaforth Community Hospital, you are encouraged to attend for sharing of admission information on Thursday, March 20th at 7:00 p.m. in Conf. Rm. 2. Pre-registration requested 527-1650 Ext. 219. Information will also be available as to how Karen Searle, Breastfeeding Facilitator can provide breastfeeding support and prob­ lem solving if required. If you require further or immediate information, please contact 527-1650 or 522-0409. PERINATAL INFORMATION SESSION Thurs. MARCH 20th at 7:30 p.m. Conf. Rm 2. TOPIC: PAIN CONTROL IN LABOUR & DELIVERY with Dr Heather Percival & Physiotherapist. Pre-registration requested and appreciated. 527-1650 Ext. 219. INVITATION TO RN/RPN’S in the community (actively engaged in Nursing or otherwise) to attend informative session to be presented by Linda Balvert, RN College of Nurses Rep. on the new requirements for Ontario Nurses regarding the Quality Assurance Program. Inservice to be held in Conference Room 2 Tiiesday, March 25th from 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. OR 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Please pre-register by calling 527-1650 Ext. 219. DIABETES EDUCATION DAY An informative enlightening opportu­ nity to attend a Workshop, Diabetes Choices & Challenges...Celebrating 75 Years of Insulin April 9, 1997 at the Festival Inn, Stratford. Target Audience: Persons with Diabetes, family, friends, and those with an interest in learning. For more information and registration details contact 527-1650 Ext. 219 no later than March 26, 1997. Reminder to Registrants: “Heart to Heart” Cardiac Rehabilitation Classes begin March 27th and run ea. Thurs. evening from 7-9 p.m. until May 8th. DIABETIC EDUCATION offered by Nurse Educator, Dianne Wood, Reg. N. each Thursday 1-3 p.m. by appointment. Self referrals accepted. No fee. Topics include: Diet, Exercise, Insulin, Oral Agents, Monitoring Technique, Travel, Days of Illness, Foot Care, Management. To pre-reg­ ister, call 527-1650 Ext. 219. CANCER SUPPORT GROUP a self-help program offered at no cost providing support and practical information by trained facilitators for patients, families and friends through informal discussion groups. You are invited to join us to talk or just listen. No registration is needed and you are welcome to come as often as you wish. Next Sessions will be held Wednesday, March 26th at 7:30 p.m. at the Seaforth Manor. For information contact Joan Chesney 527-1650 or Shirley Dinsmore at 527- 0655.