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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