The Citizen, 1997-09-03, Page 32PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3,1997
Blyth actor meets her ‘role’ model
Cora and Carolyn
Carolyn Hay, left, plays Cora Robertson in Bardance Live!
at Blyth Festival. This year's remount runs from Aug 26 to
Sept. 10. (John Greig photo)
By John Greig
Wingham Advance-Times
Playing the role of someone
who's still alive is one of the
toughest roles an actor can geL .
That's what the cast of
Barndance Live! has had to deal
with as many of the characters from
the original CKNX Bam Dance are
a live and well, with some
continuing to perform.
For Carolyn Hay, who plays all
the female roles in the Blyth
Festival production of Barndance
Live!, it was a nerve-wracking
experience.
"It was really scary. I remember
the first time they (the characters
they were playing) all came, we
were all so scared. They are real
people."
But the popularity of the
Bamdance show and the support of
the original Bam Dance cast has
made it a local success story.
Last year's performance of
Barndance Live!, a collective
directed by Paul Thompson, sold
out and more shows were added.
It was also decided to remount
the production this year from Aug.
27 to Sept. 10. Tickets are going
slowly this year, despite a
perception, the Blyth Festival
reports, that the performances are
sold out.
Hay and Barn Dance original,
Cora Robertson, recently got
together to talk about the process
by which her character was created.
Robertson is one of the major
characters played by Hay.
Cora and her husband Don were
favourites of many as Don
Robertson and the Ranch Boys on
the Bam Dance. Cora played for 19
years with the touring road show
while raising children from their
home in Bluevale. They were
known for their version of Down
Yonder and Cora for her rendition
of Wheels, bits of which she played
for Hay and a reporter last week.
Hay said it took a couple of visits
and a couple of cups of tea before
Cora played for her. Those visits
were a fundamental part of learning
her character. It was from those
sessions that Hay learned how to
emulate Cora's perfect piano
technique, which includes keeping
her bouncing wrists raised above
the keyboard.
Researching Cora involved some
reading as well.
It all turned out well as the
Robertson family was happy with
what was produced.
"We were very impressed," said
Cora. "The whole family was. My
granddaughter sat beside me and
when Carolyn came on she'd say,
'That's you Grandma'. I think she
was more excited than I was."
For Hay, it's a challenging role.
She's not sure if she plays six or
seven characters. She plays Al
Cherny's wife along with all of
Ernie King's girlfriends.
"The girls just ate him (King)
up," said Cora with a chuckle.
"And did you tease him?" asked
Hay.
"Oh, yes, oh yes," said Cora.
The fun of the Barn Dance is
something the cast has managed to
capture in its production, although
some situations had to be changed.
For example, the scene in which
Don's younger brother interferes in
Don and Cora's first date was
changed. It was his sister who was
the original intruder. With Hay
being the only female cast member,
the character was changed.
There was little changed about
Cora's character.
"She was a woman ahead of her
time," said Hay, then turning to
Cora said, "That was what was so
fascinating. You were a major trail
blazer. You were very solid."
Hay has captured Cora's
character so well that while
rehearsing for this year's
production, Hay was moving a
piano, thinking, 'this is something
Cora would do' and put it into the
production. In fact, she found out
that Cora did move many a piano in
her time.
"They never had it in the right
place," said Cora, who went on to
say that Ross Mann, who weighed
more than 300 pounds, had his
fiddle to lug, while Cora carried her
27-pound accordion.
Cora and indeed all of the Bam
Dance performers were troupers.
Neither rain nor snow would stop
them and in all the years of
performing, there was only one
accident. As Cora and some others
were returning home from Owen
Sound on a snowy evening a car
pulled out in front of them. Never
was a Bam Dance cancelled, she
said.
And Cora would always be back
to Bluevale Sunday morning to
play at the church at 10 a.m.
"These guys created such a
magical thing," said Hay. "Halfway
through rehearsal we picked upon
the magic."
It's that affinity with the original
characters which brought all but
one of the original actors back for
the second year. The one who
couldn't return is getting married.
"We'll allow him that," said”Hay.
Hay is also happy to be back in
Blyth for her second season. She
also acted in The Melville Boys and
Booze Days in a Dry County.
"This is something really special
in Canada. With the creativity up
i'
here, it is so worthwhile."
The native of Dunnville, who
now lives in Toronto, said acting in
Barndance Live! for the second
year is a bit easier on the nerves.
PRINTING
IS OUR BUSINESS
Colour
Printing
Posters
Letterheads
Envelopes
Business
Cards
Business
Forms
Brochures
Flyers
Carbonless
Forms
Labels
PRINTING,
SERVICE I
BLYTH
PRINTING INC
BLYTH 523-9211
WHERE DO YOU TURN
TO SEE
WHO GOT
MARRIED?
YOUR NEWSPAPER:
The link to your community
Address
This offer is good for students only
Postal Code.
Citizen
ATTENTION STUDENTS:
News from home
- every week
FOR ONLY $16.00 + G.S.T.
SPECIAL 8 MONTHS SUBSCRIPTION
r
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
You can receive your
own copy of the paper
and keep up with
happenings in your
home town.
THE CITIZEN
Box 152, Box 429,
Brussels, ON Blyth, ON
NOG 1HO NOM 1HO
Find enclosed $17.12 ($16.00 + 1.12 G.S.T.)
for an 8-month subscription for:
Name....................................................................
"i
!
i
i
!
i
i
i
i
j
We will send
The Citizen
to students
who
are away
from home
for the
school year.J