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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1999. PAGE 19.
‘Mostly In Clover’ performed
by Festival Young Company
Theatre review
Festival does Austen proud
The family gathers
The Bennets and their loves in Stratford Festival’s produc
tion of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, clockwise from
top left: Roger Honeywell, Michelle Giroux, Lucy Peacock,
Geordie Johnson, Florence MacGregor, Donald Carrier,
Melinda Deines, Lally Cadeau, Brian Tree, Claire Jullien.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
If you haven’t read Jane Austen’s
Pride and Prejudice, chances are
you may want to after seeing
Stratford Festival’s theatre produc
tion of the book.
A more charming heroine has sel
dom existed than Elizabeth Bennet,
the second daughter in a family of
five girls. With a sharp mind and
quick wit, she delights with her abil
ity to find the humour in life’s little
dramas.
And for the Bennet family, at least
in the eyes of the matriarch, life has
plenty of little drama. Five unmar
ried daughters with a mere 1,000
pounds each and the family estate to
be bequeathed to the closest male
relative on Mr. Bennet’s passing has
his wife in a quandary.
Hope arrives first with a wealthy
young bachelor who is renting the
house next door. And it would seem
all would go smoothly as Mr.
Bingley is clearly attracted to the
eldest girl Jane.
Elizabeth, however, is treated with
disdain by Mr. Darcy, a friend of
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Bingley’s. Her attentions are then
diverted to Mr. Wickham, whose
tales of Darcy further alienated him
from Elizabeth.
Meanwhile the Bennet heir, his
cousin Mr. Collins, appears and to
Mrs. Bennet’s delight states his
intention to help the family out by
marrying one of the girls. With the
mother’s favourite almost betrothed
to Bingley she suggests Eliza as the
alternative. Amused by the foppish
suitor. Elizabeth rejects his
advances, a fact Collins won’t
believe. He feels she is teasing
because given the family’s finances,
“it is by no means certain that anoth
er offer of marriage may ever be
made you.”
Elizabeth shows detached amuse
ment at the family’s predicament.
However, as played by Lucy
Peacock, she has a maturity that
deters any appearance of being too
frivolous. With a slight glance, an
alteration of expression, Peacock
conveys an eclectic mix of sardonic
wit and wide-eyed optimism. She is,
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THE
HAUNTING
though far older than the heroine’s
“not yet 20 and one", an enigmatic
Elizabeth.
Conversely, Geordie Johnson as
the silent, brooding Darcy, falls just
a bit short on that adjective. As a
man uncomfortable in social situa
tions, he lacks the intensity neces
sary to command attention by
appearance alone. His study of
Elizabeth seems less one of passion
than boredom. Verbally reticent in
public, the eloquence of his written
missives alone demonstrate that this
is a man of fire. And with the first
kiss, which unfortunately comes
near the end, sparks eventually fly.
The incomparable Lally Cadeau is
Mrs. Bennet. With few traits to
redeem her character, Cadeau’s
enjoyable performance lends her a
certain likability. Likewise, Brian
Tree gives proper treatment to her
long-suffering spouse's acerbic wit.
The remaining principle players
do exemplary work, with further
comic relief from Patricia Collins as
Lady Catherine de Bourgh and
Steven Sutcliffe as Collins.
(Appearing in a minor role as Lady
de Bourgh’s daughter is Dungannon
resident Brooke Hoy).
The set design by Douglas
Paraschuk shows how minimal can
offer the maximum effect, with -a
creative use of scarves and veils
often all that’s required to change a
scene.
Costumes by Alix Dolgoy not
only represented the era well, but
also defined the personalities, par
ticularly in the case of the five girls,
pragmatic, yet feminine Elizabeth,
attractively understated Jane, trashy
Lydia, caustic Kitty and bookish
Mary.
Christina Cavit’s script adaptation
of Pride and Prejudice is reminis
cent of a novel with characters relat
ing thoughts and description
between dialogue.
Directed by Jeannette
Lambermont, it is, despite its light
touch, a study of women as mer
chandise. Its hidden theme is dark,
but introduced by its courageous
heroine, made much lighter.
And though, at close to three
hours in length, Pride and Prejudice
drags from time to time, Austen’s
wise wit and lovely language keep
you entertained through most of the
performance.
As part of the Blyth Festival's
25th Anniversary celebrations, the
Young Company is taking a fresh
look at the Festival’s very first
production. Mostly in Clover.
Performances will take place in
The Garage Theatre at 8 p.m. on
August 17, 18, 21 and 27, and at
2 p.m. on August 22 and 28.
Additional performances will take
place in Clinton and Goderich on
August 20 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
respectively. Admission is on a
pay-what-you-can basis, with all
donations supporting the work of
the Young Company.
Under the professional direction
of Michael Ripley, with stage
‘Dream’ actors
beautifully
understated
Continued from Pg. 18
Directed by Kate Trotter, the per
formances are beautifully understat
ed, though the play did drag from
time to time and changes from scene
to scene were occasionally mud
dled. Surreal touches such as
Franken’s monologue of disillusion
ment while imagining some gentle
stroking by Sylvia, had, again as
chatter indicated, some theatre
goers a little befuddled.
Despite these little irritants, Every
Dream is a nice story about the
strength of love. While its trials may
have seemed more than one family
should endure, its message about
enduring, surviving and taking on
the challenge is an inspiring
reminder for us all.
for
MarR McClure
and
Michelle Machan
Friday, August 13
Brussels Arena
Age of Music
Majority by DJ
For information call
527-2756 or 887-6428
SOtfi fBiitfbday
Everett Scrimgeour
August 12, 1999
Best wishes from your family
Thanks for all your help Dad,
Doug & Diane
management by Cappy Onn of
Blyth, the l l members of the Blyth
Festival Young Company range
from l 3 to l 8 years of age and
represent the communities of Blyth,
Clinton, Goderich, Lis towel,
Lucknow, Vanastra, Wingham and
Elmira. In addition to rehearsals,
the young people participate in
workshops, attend Blyth Festival
performances, and spend time with
the professional acting company.
The Blyth Festival Young
company's production of Mostly In
Clover is sponsored in part by the
Imperial Oil Charitable Foundation,
London Life, the Youth Theatre
Training Programme of Theatre
Ontario, and Mrs. Mabel Wheeler.
^TAG & DOeM
for
TINA BELL
&
MIKE METSKE
Saturday, Aug 21, 1999
Blyth Arena
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Music by:
The Neat Guys
Lunch Provided
Tickets ”5.00
Available at the door