HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-07-23, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 23,1997 PAGE 19.
E ntertainment Blyth Festival
wants stories
Theatre review
Messages true to any gender
Play acting
In a delightful moment from the Avon Theatre's production
of Little Women, Jo (Kristina Nicholl), left and Amy
(Cassie Fox) get into the scene of Jo's play as Roderigo
and Zara, respectively.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
The first lime I read Louisa May
Alcott's Little Women, I thought
what a lovely family the Marches
would be to have as neighbours.
The cast of the Avon Theatre's
production of this classic, adapted
for stage by Marisha Chamberlain,
display all the qualities that made
me admire them as a child, while
displaying some more earthy
charms.
Chamberlain's adaptation plays
up Jo's tomboy qualities and her
independent views. Portrayed by
Kristina Nicoll, she is a boisterous,
uninhibited free-spirit, with all the
feelings of a woman and a good
deal of frustration over them. While
on one part she wants to be a lieu
tenant in the army, she is also
reduced to tears by her sister’s com
ment that her hair was her only true
beauty.
Nicholl has the lime of her life
with this colourful character and in
an unrestrained performance
encourages the audience to laugh
with her at herself.
Fiona Byrne as the refined,
mature Meg is lovely, a perfect foil
for Jo's brashness.
Younger sister Amy, is played
with spoiled sassiness by Cassie
Fox. Though she gives a polished
performance for one so young,
Fox's sweet beauty isn't enough to
make her truculent, self-indulgent
'baby' forgivable. If any sister is
going to get on your nerves it's
Amy.
It is Claire Jullien's Beth that
captures your heart. While it would
be easy to make this timid child an
insipid wallflower, Jullien gives her
a spark of liveliness that shines
brightly, even from the back
ground. While she is not exactly
vivacious, there is an effervescence
about her that draws your attention.
Dixie Seatie as Marmee is matri-
Stag & Doe
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July 25,1997
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Music by D.J.
archal and charming. She displays a
delight in her little women that
seems genuine. Her maturity is the
girls' bulwark, her pleasure in them,
their gift.
How the men play into these
women's lives, differs slightly from
the book. In her adaptation, Cham
berlain very much focusses on Jo's
independence and drive. There is
no Professor Friedrich Bhaer; the
story ends, not with Jo's acceptance
of his proposal but with her rejec
tion of Laurie's and her father's
vote of confidence. He encourages
her to go on with her ambition and
live her life for herself.
As the dear friend, and spumed
suitor, Laurie, Craig Erickson is a
flippant youth who adds a nice
touch of mischief to the story.
Bradford Farwell serves well as the
bland John Brooke, while Lewis
Gordon brings a little mischief as
well to the role of Mr. Laurence.
Stephen Russell does nicely as
the proud papa.
Barbara Bryne is a formidable
Aunt March, and rounding out the
cast is Joyce Campion as the faith
ful servant Hannah.
Directed by Marti Maraden, the
characters are old friends, familiar
from the favourite story, yet, new,
showing a strength and determina
tion that relates well to women of
today. The production moves
quickly, particularly in the first act
when the more light-hearted
moments occur.
The set design by John Pennoyer
is attractive and effective.
Little Women has, since first pub
lished in 1868, brought many min
utes of joy to people, particularly
young girls. Whether by book, on
movie or stage it has stood the test
of time and its characters are as
likeable and familiar to this genera
tion as to earlier ones.
It was not surprising, therefore
that the audience at the Avon per
formance was comprised primarily
of females, especially young ones.
But, while the story obviously
appeals to women, it is not neces
sary for the men to stay home. Lit
tle Women is a play about family
and the lies that keep it strong. It is
about their humour, their generosi
ty and their kindness. Il is about
struggle and determination, about
having dreams and striving for
them.
And those messages play well to
any age or any gender.
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of sib rivalry
The Blyth Festival is looking for
your funny stories of sibling
rivalry. Remember the Smothers
Brothers’ famous "Mom always
liked you best" comedy routine?
Perhaps you and your sibling
once vied for your parents'
affection, dated the same person, or
competed with one another in
school or sports? Perhaps you and
your brother or sister are complete
opposites?
If so, explain it in a paragraph (or
two), send it in to the Festival and
you could be eligible to win free
theatre tickets.
The idea for this contest comes
from the Norm Foster comedy, The
Melville Boys, set to open on the
Blyth stage July 30. Much of the
humour in this play comes from the
fact that it revolves around two
brothers with opposite personalities
who meet two sisters with opposite
personalities.
Foster, one of the most prolific
playwrights in Canada, describes
the older responsible brother, Lee
(played by Eric Coates), as the
brother he always wanted, and the
younger, uninhibited brother, Owen
(Air Cohen), as the type of guy he
thought he might like to be for just
one day.
As for the sisters, Foster says the
older sister, Mary (Carolyn Hay), is
the woman he could fall in love
with, while the younger, more free-
spirited sister, Loretta (Sharon
Bernbaum), is the woman that
every man could fall in love with.
The Festival will accept your
sibling rivalry stories until Aug. 6.
These will be judged for a first
CONGRATS TO
THE NEWEST
GUPPIES ON
THE BEACH!
prize (a 1998 four-coupon
subscription), second prize (two
tickets to a 1997 production - treat
your sibling!) or third prize (one
ticket to a 1997 production - treat
yourself and make your sibling
pay!)
Entries can be mailed to Box 10,
Blyth NOM 1H0; faxed to (519)
523-9804; or dropped off al the
Box Office on Queen Street in
Blyth. Be sure to include your
name, address and phone number.
J-Iappy 50lh
^Anniversary
Russ & Marion Cook
OPEN HOUSE
at Randy & Eleanor
Babcock's house
(north of Clinton on Hwy. 4)
Saturday, August 2
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Everyone Welcome
JIappy Birthday
Mom
She was...
Plenty at 20
Flirty at 30
Still Sporty at 40
LOVE FROM ALL OF US