The Citizen, 1996-07-17, Page 26VIelsee S ' 0 f
By John Schedler
Many of this week's new releases provide an antidote to the usual run of
the mill Hollywood pap that dominates video store shelves. Leading the
list is Shanghai Triad **** (Columbia/Tristar), another exquisite film
from director Zhang Yimou To Live, Ju Dou. The story tells the tale of a
14-year-old boy assigned to look after a beautiful prostitute (Gong Li) and
of the feuding gangsters vying for her affections. This is a rich and
hypnotic film from one of China's best filmmakers. Highly recommended.
(Rated 14A)
I also enjoyed Rumble In The Bronx *** (Alliance), a wild action-filled
ride from Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan. Forget the plot, which has
something to do with stolen diamonds, mobsters and a motorcycle gang,
and marvel at the way Chan goes about his ballet of hair.-raising action in
which he never employs a stuntman. Sure it's violent, but I found more
laughs here than in numerous other films that bill themselves as comedies.
Rumble in the Bronx is a wonky fun time. (Rated 14A, contains a few four
letter words)
While Cry The Beloved Country ***1/2 (Alliance) didn't do too much at
the box office, this anti-apartheid drama is well worth a viewing. Set in
1940s South Africa the story is of a black priest (James Earl Jones), who
travels to Johannesburg in search of his estranged son. When there he
discovers the boy has been accused of murdering the son of a white
landowner (Richard Harris). Based on the novel by Alan Paton the story
was filmed before in 1951 starring Sidney Poitier and 1974 as the musical
Lost in the Stars with Brock Peters. James Earl Jones is an imposing
presence and his performance is simply wonderful. (Rated PG)
And then there is City of Lost Children *** (Alliance), a bizarre fantasy
from France that goes into Terry Gilliam country with a vengeance. This
is a not-for-kids fairy tale about a mad scientist who kidnaps children to
steal their dreams and the young girl and the kindly sideshow strongman
(Ron Perlman) who set out to rescue them. This is a fantastic looking film,
wildly inventive and extremely strange. (Rated 14A - some very
frightening scenes). Available in both subtitled and dubbed versions.
Other new releases include Happy Gilmore (MCA) starring Adam
Sandler as a hockey loving bozo who ends up on a pro golf tour. Despite a
great sequence in the preview with Price is Right host Bob Barker
punching out Sandler I just couldn't bring myself to watch this one. (Rated
PG)
I've also given up on anything written, directed or starring Quentin
Tarantino, the most overrated guy currently making movies. His latest to
reach video store shelves is Four Rooms (Alliance) an alleged comedy in
which he shares directorial chores with Robert Rodriguez (another one
note wonder), Alexander Rockwell and Allison Anders. (Rated R)
In An Eye For An Eye (Paramount) Sally Field plays a woman who
seeks revenge on the man accused of murdering her daughter. (If Sally's
hysterics in the preview are any indication she won't be taking home
another Oscar anytime soon. (Rated R)
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Forthcoming
Marriage
Ken and Judy Shortreed are
pleased to announce the
forthcoming marriage of
their daughter Kendra Lynn
to Raymond Edward, son of
Henry and Susan Wilts. The
ceremony will take place at
the Christian Reformed
Church, Blyth, on Friday,
July 19, 1996 at 5 p.m.
GRADUATION
David and Dianne Baan are
pleased and proud to
announce the graduation of
their daughter Kim Bean
from the Early Childhood
Education Program at
Conestoga College in
Kitchener. She is currently
employed at the Seaforth
Co-operative Children's
Centre.
Best Wishes with love from
her family.
PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1996
Fiddling goes on behind doors in Blyth play
Back in Blyth
With her daughters, Erika and baby Gabrielle, musician
Anne Lederman, is back in Blyth after almost 20 years.
She is fiddling on stage and behind the scenes in the
acclaimed production Barndance Live.
By Bonnie Gropp
You can fiddle in public or
behind closed doors. Anne Leder-
man does both.
As one of the musicians bringing,
to life a part of rural Ontario histo-
ry in Blyth Festival's Barndance
Live, the talented fiddler plays not
just on stage, but sets up an allu-
sion with the non-playing actors in
a few scenes. "Some of the actors
who are portraying fiddlers, don't
actually play, so they are miming
and I am their sound. Some of the
music cues happen behind the barn
doors."
Anne's fingers definitely get a
workout in the production, which is
based on the popular CKNX show.
"For a play, there's a lot of fiddling.
It was a very important part of the
Barn Dance phenomenon." •
It was for this reason that writ-
er/director Paul Thompson, felt it
important to hire a musician rather
than a musician/actor so they could
concentrate fully on the work at
hand, says Anne. "The fiddle music
is integral to that part of the show."
Anne credits the Barn Dance
with being an innovator. "It was
modern for its time. It worked well
because it incorporated the tradi-
tional dance with the more modem.
The fiddle was key to that. Whether
it was an Eddie Arnold song or old-
Ontario style of music, the fiddling
brought it all together."
This notion is very evident in the
play, Anne says. While the first
half features the older style, playing
fiddle to "the heart of the melody",
like Rossie Mann did, the second
half gets to the Al Cherney style of
There may not be a free lunch,
but for people attending A Taste of
Country Food Fair in Blyth, July
20, there certainly are plenty of free
snacks.
Food producers from across -the
region provide free samples to
to the food fair at Blyth and
District Community Centre,
introducing them to new ways of
cooking familiar products like eggs
and pork as well as unique products
like pheasant and wild boar. For
those who like the taste of the
sample, and would like to try foods
at home, many exhibitors will have
their products for sale. Farm-fresh
fruits and vegetables are among the
products on sale.
Exhibitors will have plenty of
recipes free for the taking. Visitors
may even win some of this
wonderful food through the door
prizes given out throughout the
day.
playing. "It was the era of fancy
fiddling, of putting on a show. You
play everything but the melody.-I
hope the audience picks up on
that."
While Anne says the second half
of Barndance Live has quite a dif-
ferent feel to it, the first is no less
moving. "Both styles are quite
energetic," she says, adding that
she wishes she could have the
opportunity after the show to talk to
people in the audience and find out
which style affects them most and
why.
One great thing of the tradition of
music featured in the Barn Dance
was how it brought so many types
of musical forms together. There
were French-Canadian and German
musicians featured on the show,
while the inimitable Cherney was
of Ukranian descent.
"It brought a lot of traditions
together. That makes it very Cana-
dian."
The Toronto-based fiddler says
she has an appreciation for the dif-
ferent qualities in all forms of
music. Usually playing for con-
certs and special events, she says
it's "great" to enter into all the
styles. "It's like being an actor on
the fiddle. You go into different
characters."
Anne says she tends to enjoy
playing in the style of the area she's
visiting. "In the city I play more
jazz or Yiddish music. When I'm
on the east coast I like to play
Celtic music — which somehow
doesn't feel right when I'm in rural
Ontario.
Being in this part of the country
s
The Food Fair has displays by
both the large commodity groups
like the egg producers, milk
producers and beef producers, and
individual farmers and food
entrepreneurs. The Huron County
Egg Producers, for instance, always
have a large display and serve
samples of eggs cooked in new
ways.
Typical of the food entrepreneurs
is Barb Storey of Winthrop Maple
Syrup Products in Winthrop. She'll
be offering products of the maple
Continued on page 27
is not new to Anne, whose family
lived in Listowel for a time then
moved to Bridgeport. She is also a
'familiar new' face at Blyth having
been part of the 1978 season. She
performed in The Blyth Memorial
History Show, Summer's Burning
and Blood is Strong. "They used
their musicians in those days," she
jokes.
For the city girl, it was a true
introduction to rural life. Living in
a house out in the country that had
been unoccupied since the war,
Anne commuted to the theatre on
bike.
It was through an acquaintance
that she worked with at the theatre
that summer, that she later met her
husband. On this trip to Blyth, in
addition to having a better sense of
life in the country, she also brings
with her two daughters, Erika,
seven, and Gabrielle eight-and-a-
half months.
While their mother's music and
slightly bohemian lifestyle are
something they can relate to, the
girls are enjoying the adventure
here. "Erika has always been
around to see me performing differ-
ent kinds of music. But it's great for
them here. Growing up in a city
you don't get to be around trees and
open fields."
Or behind barn doors for that
matter.
STACEY RENEE HENRY
Stacey Henry, daughter of
Ron and Mary Lou Henry,
Goderich, Ont., received
her Bachelor of Arts in
Geography from the
University of Western
Ontario, London, Ont.
June 11, 1996.
Stacey is currently attend-
ing D'Youville College,
Buffalo New York for her
Secondary Education
Teaching Certificate.
Congratulations from Mom
and Dad.
Coffr‘ataiati;vre./
GRADUATION
Deborah Logue, on June 10,
1996, graduated with honours
from Algonquin College as a
child and youth worker on
the Dean's Honour List.
Presently employed with
Sherwood Detention Centre
and Children's Aid Society.
Congratulations and Best
Wishes,
Mom, Dad, Michele, Lori, Lisa
& Rambo.
Food fair this weekend