HomeMy WebLinkAboutSetting The Stage, 1998-06-24, Page 39Tin(ay
Decorators
HOME DECORATING
CENTRE
Carpets
Window
'Treatments
Wallpaper - Paints
Lucknow
519-528-3434
Grand View Restaurant
Owned & operated by Randy & Eleanor Babcock
along with daughters Kim & Kerry, since February 15,
1986. Well known for good coffee and delicious
homemade pies and cheesecakes made by Eleanor and her parents in
the restaurant kitchen. Daily specials include a choice of large or
small portions, (You'll want to save room for dessert). Fast, friendly
service. Eat in or take out. Open 7 days a week.
Mon. - Sat. 5 a.m. - 8 p.m. & Sun. 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
523-4471 Corner of Hwy. #4 and County Rd. #25, Blyth
BRAVO! to
the Blyth Festival on
the opening of its
24th season
ILAES I VAII IL IL
Opening July 30 at
1/.
NEW HOLLAND EQUIPMENT PLUS
30 short lines to choose from.
Service with a smile for over 60 years.
Ik('/\41g10413, 1McGAVIN
FARM SUPPLY LTD._ FARM EQUIPMENT
WALTON
County Road 12, Walton WALTON
27-0245 887-6365,/ 8.87-6365 527-0245}
Thirteen Hands
A , parhng s
PROPANE
Proudly
Sponsored by
www. sparlings. corn
SETTING THE STAGE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1998. PAGE 15.
Michelle Fisk seeks best of family and theatre lives
Michelle Fisk: kids play a big
role in her life.
By Allison Lawlor
B lyth is close to home for
Michelle Fisk—and that's
where she wants to be.
Michelle moved to Stratford in
1991 with her husband and two,
young children.
"My kids are a deciding factor
in what jobs I take now. I don't
Caroline Gillis's mother can't
remember all the plays her
daughter has performed in.
But she does remember the time she
saw Caroline on stage wearing one
of her old slips.
In 1991, Caroline was in
Newfoundland at the Stephenville
Festival performing in a production
of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
"My mom got a real kick out of
seeing me on stage wearing one of
her slips. And it was just one of
those cheap ones," Caroline
laughed.
Audiences won't see Caroline in
a slip this season at the Blyth
Festival. But what she'll be wearing
is still a mystery. This summer
she's performing in Wilbur County
Technical director Matt Farrell
arrived in Blyth a month
before the actors to get
started on putting the stage sets
together.
As technical director, Matt works
with the production manager to
create the stage sets designed by the
designer and director. It's a long
process that involves many people.
"I like my job because I'm
working with people and I'm doing
something that is creative. It's
different than just building a
house," he said.
The theatre company tries to buy
its materials locally to support the
local economy. Most of the
materials used in the shop are wood
and metal.
Matt said the facilites at Blyth
are great for the size of the theatre.
"The shop here is amazing, we're
spoiled. The next best shop is at the
Shaw Festival."
This season will be Mike's first
year as technical director. Last
summer he worked as a production
assistant.
Born in Port Elgin, Matt acted in
school plays. After high school he
went on to study theatre technical
want to be away from home for
long."
Years ago, after graduating from
the University of British Columbia
with a degree in theatre, Michelle
left her home in Vancouver in
search of work.
"Before I got married I worked
in almost every Canadian city. I
got to know Canada this way."
Michelle last appeared at the
Blyth Festival in 1989, when she
played Margie Brush in The
Dreamland and Mrs. Donnelly in
Sticks and Stones.
She took the offer to perform
this season because she wanted to
work with the cast of talented
directors, actors and playwrights.
Michelle has roles in Yesteryear
by Joanna McClelland Glass and
Thirteen Hands by Carol Shields.
She's looking forward to both
plays because she thinks they are'
both interesting in their own way.
"I like Beth MacMillian (in
Yesteryear) because she is a
complicated person. She's both
sad and happy at the same time."
Michelle doesn't know yet who
she will be playing in Thirteen
Hands. But she does know she
could be playing up to 15
characters.
"The play will be very
challenging. It's like sketch work
where you have to change your
character so quickly."
Blues by Andrew Moodie and Jobs!
Jobs! Jobs! by Keith Roulston.
Growing up as a shy kid in Cape
Breton Island,-.N.S. Caroline
discovered theatre in Grade 8.
"Even though I was shy I had this
overwhelming desire for people to
pay attention to me," she said.
Caroline drew more attention
when she started acting seriously at
the College of Cape Breton and
then Dalhousie University.
After graduating from Dalhousie,
Caroline spent a couple of years
working in Halifax and put acting
on hold. It wasn't until she moved
to Toronto that she really started
acting professionally.
Since then, she has spent two
seasons in Stratford as part of the
production at Ryerson in Toronto.
After graduating in 1997, he
worked for a year at Ryerson in the
theatre department. •
Matt has done freelance work for
the Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Passe
Muraille and the Roxy in Owen
Sound.
Continued on Pg. 16
Complicated roles are familiar to
Michelle. After spending six
seasons at Stratford where she
performed in such plays as The
Merchant of Venice, The Country
Wife and Measure for Measure,
Christine Oakey got a taste of
Blyth last summer when she
took over as assistant stage
manager for the last month of the
season. She couldn't wait to come
back this year.
"It's exciting being a part of such
a long-running festival. And it's
nice to be in a place where people
appreciate theatre."
Christine will be working on
Yesteryear by Joanna McClelland
Glass and Thirteen Hands by Carol
Shields.
Growing up in Windsor, N.S.,
Christine acted in high school plays
and hoped to be an actor one day.
She changed her mind when she got
to the University of King's College
in Halifax. After auditioning for
various roles and being rejected she
decided to try stage managing.
She quickly discovered her talent
as a stage manager and hasn't
looked back since then. After
graduating from King's in 1995,
Caroline Gillis: shy kid finds a
home on stage
Young Company, performed at the
Neptune Theatre and immersed
herself in Toronto's small theatre
world.
Aside from acting, Caroline wrote
a one-woman show called Caveman
Rainbow which she performed at
the Neptune Theatre and is working
on a new play about relationships
called, How to Make Love.
"I'm trying to find ways to make
my own work," she said.
Michelle is comfortable with
challenging Shakespearean plays.
This past winter Michelle acted
in a five-week Toronto School
Board sex education theatre
program aimed at teenage girls.
she set off for Montreal where she
studied technical production at the
National Theatre School.
Since graduating, Christine has
toured Nova Scotia with a puppet
theatre company called Mermaid
Theatre and worked as an assistant
technical director for Eastern Front
theatre company.
Christine hopes to return to Nova
Scotia, but for now she is happy to
work in different Canadian cities.
At Blyth, Christine is responsible
for making sure the props, sets and
costumes are in order. During
performances she spends most of
her time backstage helping the
actors and assisting the stage
manager in running the show
smoothly.
"As assistant stage manager you
really get to know all of the actors
and the production team. They're a
great group of people."
Michelle has also worked in
television. Recently, she made a
guest appearance on Traders.
For Matt Farrell, working
in Blyth is almost home
At least once, Caroline's morn
was proud her slip was showing
Rejections bring discovery of
real talent for stage manager