HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-06-30, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1999. PAGE 19.
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Theatre review
Play like a good book
There will be no
bingo on July 1 -
Canada Day
STARTS FRIDAY
FlNENLrTT&TooTr^1
SUNDAY MATINEE 2 P.M.
AUSTIN POWERS:
THE SPY WHO
SHAGGED ME
A ‘Summer’ moment
Newcomers Eric Davis as Paul and Adrienne Wilson as
Maggie enjoy a tender moment during this scene from
Blyth Festival’s production of David French’s That
Summer, which kicked off Blyth Festival’s silver season on
Friday night.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Imagine being curled up with that
delicious summer novel, a romantic
tale with endearing characters who
pull you in page after page, begging
you to care.
Th^n imagine their story vividly
playing out before you and you have
David French’s newest play That
Summer, which kicked off Blyth
Festival’s 25th season on Friday
night.
A good book offers insight into its
characters’ psyches. It describes
places, tastes, and feelings. In his
play, French has painted a descrip
tive picture of summers past, lost
love revisited and the philosophies
of life’s mysteries. As seen through
the memories of the mature Maggie
there is not just a wistful look at
young love, but of the confusion of
innocence when confronted with
life’s mysteries.
In a book the author must make us
care about the people in his story.
French, too, does a superb job defin
ing character^, so that you come to
feel you know them well. They are
very real, very much like your old
girlfriend, your next-door neigh
bour.
It is 1990 and Maggie has
returned with her granddaughter
Caitlin to the scene of That Summer,
an Ontario lakefront cottage, where
in 1958 she had vacationed with her
father and her sister, Daisy.
She relives her romance with
Paul, her friendship with the fami
ly’s neighbour, Mrs. Crump and the
tragic end to a blissful adolescence.
If the play at times seems pre
dictable, its dialogue trite, there are
no apologies. Naivete is not elo
quent and conversation among teens
is seldom more than banal. But
these are balanced in many ways by
French.
Maggie paints a lyrical portrai
ture of her memorable summer.
Mrs. Crump, a teacher, is flamboy
ant in action and word. Paul quotes
Robbie Bums, while the romantic
young Maggie, with aspirations of
writing, often speaks in flowery
phrase worthy of a character from a
Jane Austen novel.
Director Bill Glassco, who has
worked on every French play, keeps
the integrity of the characters. They
are never less than very real, very
likeable people.
And bringing them to life is a
wonderful cast. Michelle Fisk is a
consummate performer, who twists
your heart, then in a beat turns your
smile.
Diana Belshaw is having a grand
time as Mrs. Crump, and it shows.
Free-spirited bohemian or strict
matron, one can’t always be sure,
but she did it all with such spirit any
conflict seemed irrelevant.
The three young people, Daisy,
Maggie and Paul are all newcomers
to Blyth and it is hoped they’ll be
back. Samantha Reynolds as Daisy
is everybody’s younger sister, a
mass of energy and confusion. She
does a terrific job.
Adrienne Wilson and Eric Davis
turn in beautifully understated per
formances. Davis is an enigmatic
Paul, who despite his apparent
bravado, is sweetly romantic.
Wilson is a captivating ingenue,
disarmingly cute, but not too cute.
Though not on stage all that often,
Larry Yachimee as the father shows
he’s a solid performer, while Blyth’s
own Erin Roulston fills the shoes of
13-year-old Caitlin nicely.
Shawn Kerwin’s set design is sim
ply effective, taking us literally with
a picnic table from the cemetery to
the dining room.
There are some problems with the
play, minor irritants that bother, like
what changes Mrs. Crump’s mind
about Paul, but its charm seems to
soothe them. That Summer is a nice
story which like the ending of a
good book leaves you wishing only
the best for the people you have
come to know.
ON $3.00 THURSDAYS
Drop Into either of our offices any Thursday
with your word classified (maximum 20 words)
and pay only $3.00 (paid in advance).
That's $1.00 off regular rates
C itizen
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The North Huron
Stappy, 50th
Steaeraaari
July 2, 1949
&
&>
&
Best wishes &
all our love
Sharon & Murray,
Fred & Kaye, AnnaLee
& Barry
and families
CINEMA 2 7 & 9:00 P.M.
SUNDAY MATINEE 2 P.M.
WALT DISNEY’S
TARZAN
Family
- RETAIL MERCHANTS:
FREE MATINEES:
. JULY 6-10 AT 2:00 P.M.
- QUEST FOR CAMELOT &
Z ALMOST HEROES
Jtcippy, 40tfl
Hebo & Margaret
Siertsema
Come and Go Visit
at their new home
from 2-5 p.m.
Sunday, July 4,1999
Best Wishes Only
Bring a lawn chair
Love from your family
Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary
Mom & Dad
Cg) Medic Alert
SPEAKS FOR Y D U
1-8DD-668-15O7
www.medicalert.ca
Please celebrate with us the
50th Wedding Anniversary
of
Graham & Margaret Work
Everyone is welcome
to attend an
OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, July 11 from
1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Melville Presbyterian Church
Brussels
Best Wishes Only, Please
Love
Ken, Judy, Kathy, Brian
On display
Ron Walker, left, introduces artist Eric Beddous (aka Ken
Nutt) of Stratford at the opening of an exhibition of his
work at the Bainton Art Gallery on Friday night. Beddous,
who studied painting and drawing at York University has
been illustrating books since the early 1980s and has
participated in various solo and group exhibitions. He has
received many awards for his work including most
recently the 1996 Governor General’s Award for
Children’s Book Illustration.
BUCK & DOE
for
LEANNE BELL
&
WILFRED DATEMA
Saturday, July 10
Blyth Arena
D.J. MCL SOUND
Lunch Age of
Provided Majority
For more information call
523-4245
or
482-9394
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