The Citizen, 1996-08-14, Page 23Special moment
Rustey Davenport as Jamie shares a special moment
with his grandmother Wynn, portrayed by Blyth Festival's
Artistic Director Janet Amos in this production of
Fireworks which premiered July 31.
0 p ;o
Hunchback of
Notre Dame
Family Entertainment
FRI.-THURS., AUG. 16-22
FRI. & SAT. 7 & 9:15 PM
SUN.-THURS. 8 PM
LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-800-255-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO
Theatre review
Story unravels threads of family love
By Bonnie Gropp
The strength and struggle of fam-
ily is the centre behind Fireworks,
a moving drama which premiered
at Blyth Festival July 31.
The story unravels the threads of
animosity and love which tie three
generations of men. Frank (John
Wright) cannot forgive his father
Franklin (Ron Hastings) for the
past. His father had spent a lot of
time away from home when Frank
was young, so his son now har-
The Blyth Festival is pleased to
welcome back perennial favourites
Don Harron and Catherine
McKinnon on Saturday, Sept. 28 at
8 p.m. This marks the fifth
appearance in Blyth for these long-
time friends of the Festival.
Harron and McKinnon are
veterans in the Canadian entertain-
ment industry. From his beginnings
as a CBC radio personality and an
actor at the Stratford Festival, Don
Harron's remarkable career has
encompassed everything from an
18-year stay on the television series
Ilee flaw, to the authorship of 10
best selling books. It is through
"Charlie Farquharson", his
hilarious alter ego, that Harron's
incisive wit and down-home
humour are best known.
Buck & Doe
for
HEATHER McDONALD
JACK VAN DORP
Friday, August 16, 1996
9 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Age of Majority Only
For more information call
523-9023 or 523-9404
bours a good deal of resentment
towards him for what he perceives
as his father's indifference to him
and his mother Wynn.
While father and son hurl verbal
barrages, Frank also manages to
alienate his developmentally chal-
lenged son Jamie (Rustey Dave::-
port). In addition to coming to
terms with the break-up of his par-
ent's marriage, Jamie is also con-
fused by Frank's suggestion he
move into a group home. The cool
Catherine McKinnon has had an
incredibly successful television,
stage and recording career,
including a Juno Award for Top
Female Vocalist. She performs a
distinctive blend of east coast folk
music with her talented back-up
hand, The Diane Leah Trio.
Prior to the Harron-McKinnon
show at Blyth, an enticing dinner
will be held at 6 p.m. in the Lower
Hall. It will include a unique
fashion show, The Artful Dresser,
sponsored by the Blyth Festival Art
Gallery Committee.
For a great evening of "Charlie
CAPITOL
THEATRE
291-3070
All Seats $4.25
LISTOWEL
• Dolby Surround Sound Stereo •
• STARTS FRIDAY •
August 16.22
•
7:00 & 9:15
PHENOMENON
John Travolta AA
August 19 -23
1.1
Monday to Friday
KAZAAM
Shaquille O'Neal (Child Fantasy) PG
2:00 p.m. $1.00 per ticket
wall of reserve surrounding the
young man has been built to shelter
him from his father's withdrawal.
The one common thread sewn
among these three very different
men is Wynn. As the play unfolds
we witness how, even in death, her
unconditional love, her strength,
pull this trio of familiar strangers
together.
Playwright Gordon John Portman
dedicates this play to the "wonder-
ful women who have shaped his
life and career." They obviously
had a profound impact on him as he
has delivered a sensitive, emotion-
ally charged story that typifies the
strength of women in their roles as
matriarch. Blyth's Artistic Director
Janet Amos is a no-nonsense
Wynn, whose warmth for those
near to her covers a steely will to
set them straight.
Wright does a good job as the
middle-aged man caught between
trying to understand what went
wrong and his part in it, while
Hastings keeps the animosity palat-
able, sweetening it with a sardonic
wit.
Davenport does an admirable job
with the challenging role of Jamie.
His clear-eyed perspective is often
the voice of reason in this tale of
on-going conflict.
Directed by Paul Lampert Fire-
works is not for those looking to be
entertained. It is a dark, brooding
view of when things go wrong. The
haunting score by John Roby is a
perfect complement, though you're
not likely to leave the theatre hum-
ming. While the bickering can
become wearing on occasion, it is
better to focus on the current of
underlying love and the determina-
tion of all to bring it out.
Farquharson" comedy and enchant-
ing Catherine McKinnon music,
order your tickets now by calling
the Blyth Festival Box Office at
(519) 523-9300. Performance $25;
dinner $15. Tickets are also
available at Campbell's, Goderich;
Crossroads, Clinton; Bluewater
Office Equipment, Wingham; and
B.K. Wholesalers, Listowel.
Friday, Saturday, 7:00 & 9:00 p.m.
Sun., Toes., Wed., &
Thurs. 8 p.m.
Posed Monday
5/r, 57-1630,
:5 :a :5 :5 ;5 :5 :5 ;5 :5 :1i :5 :5
Continued from page 22
Canadian Literature. He has toured
Europe as a writer and language
coach and is co-founder of the Bald
Ego theatre company in Toronto
which produces original Canadian
work. His Young Company
assistants are Tricia O'Donnell
from Arthur, production manager
and assistant director, and
Catherine McGregor from
Newmarket, movement and acting
coach.
The services of Adam Nashman
as Young Company director were
made possible, in part, by the
Youth Theatre Training Program of
Theatre Ontario, funded by the
Ontario Arts Council. Tricia
O'Donnell's services were made
possible through an OAC
Experience Program grant. Young
Company sponsors include
Imperial Oil Charitable Foundation,
the Goderich Lions Club and Mrs.
Mabel Wheeler.
Midsummer runs Aug. 13 to 17 at
7:30 p.m. in The Garage Theatre
FORTHCOMING
MARRIAGE
Clem and Phyllis Steffler
of Brussels
and
Sharon West
of Winnipeg, Manitoba
wish to announce the
forthcoming marriage of their
children
Patricia Jo-Anne Steffler
and
Brendan Drew West
both of Calgary
on August 24th at 3 p.m. at
St. Ambrose Church, Brussels.
FORTHCOMING
MARRIAGE
Rita Van Den Broek
and
David McPherson
along with their parents,
are pleased to announce
their forthcoming marriage
on
Saturday, Aug. 17, 1996,
at 3 p.m.
St Ambrose, Brussels
space. There is also a 2 p.m.
matinee Saturday, Aug. 17.
FORTHCOMING
MARRIAGE
FISCHER - SWART
Tracey Lynn
and
Mark William
along with their parents, are
pleased to announce their
forthcoming marriage. The
wedding will take place
Saturday, August 17, 1996 at
St. Columban Catholic
Church, St. Columban, Ont.
at 1 p.m.
FORTHCOMING
MARRIAGE
Dylan Bromley along with
his grandparents, Wayne
and Debbie McDougall and
Bruce and Sharon Bromley
are pleased to announce the
forthcoming marriage of
Danielle Dawn McDougall
and
Jeffery Michael Bromley
on
Saturday, August 17, 1996
at the
Blyth United Church
Open Reception at 9 p.m. at
the Blyth Community Centre.
ntertainment
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1996 PAGE 23.
Young Co. play runs Aug. 13-17
Famous couple returns to Blyth