HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-08-05, Page 19E ntertainment
On their game
Carol Shields' Thirteen Hands is brought to life at the Blyth Festival by a fabulous cast of
women who proclaim "It's not a sin to want to win". The production features the talents of,
from left: Michelle Fisk, Jane Spidell, Sharon Bakker and Goldie Semple and is directed for
the Blyth stage by Diana Belshaw. (Photo by Off Broadway Photo)
Theatre review
gek ft- Zile
for
Cathy McDonald
& Mike Strickland
August 15
from 9 to 1
at Blyth & District
Community Centre
Age of majority only
85th 13irthday
The family of Margaret Nesbit
would like to invite you
to help celebrate her
85th Birthday.
An Open House will be held on
Sunday, August 16
between 3 p.m. & 5 p.m.
at the Parish Hall of Trinity
Anglican Church, Blyth
Best Wishes only please
CPt.PI TOt
i•Eit
TWIN CINEMA
SURROUND SOUND STEREO
OCKBUSTER WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!"
LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-800-255-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1998. PAGE 19.
Ladies of the club amazing
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
They are the ladies of the club —
bridge club, that is — and they are
amazing.
Thirteen Hands, which opened
Thursday night at Blyth Festival is
a celebration of women — liver
spots and all. From men and moth-
ers to unmatched purses and shoes,
to adulterous husbands, playwright
Carol Shields delicately and wittily
offers insight into the nuances of
being female.
The Martha Circle began some
50 years ago, four friends playing
bridge on Tuesday evenings. The
narrator is Clara, the last surviving
member. Her memories lead you
through four generations of card
players as they talk about their
insecurities, their pasts, their loves
and hates. And as the circle contin-
ues, its members come and go, a
tangible reminder of inevitable
mortality.
Yet, accurate as this synopsis
may be, it seems far more superfi-
cial than the reality. The very real
people and everyday stories pre-
sented belie the true depth of this
play.
And bringing the wonderful
ladies of the Martha Circle over the
course of the last 50 years from
paper to stage, is as strong an
ensemble as you can find any-
where.
With a variety of delightful char-
acters, Sharon Bakker, Michelle
Fisk, Goldie Semple and Jane Spi-
dell, the challenge for the audience
is to know at any given moment
which group they are actually see-
ing in the scene. It is a credit to the
actors that they make it easy.
Such an incomparable talent is
Semple, that as subtly as a dimmer
switch, she ages before your eyes.
A slight change in stance and
voice, and I would swear I could
see her hair greying.
It is a testimony to the brilliant
work of her co-stars that she does
not outshine anyone. Fisk, Spidell
and Bakker are accomplished
actors who more than hold their
own beside the commanding Sem-
ple.
Director Diana Belshaw kept the
scenes moving well despite several
time shifts and character changes.
There are, however, some moments
of, if not confusion, than question.
Who for example do Clara's trench-
coated visitors, always preceded by
a ringing bell, represent? Are they
conscience or voices of the past?
As the questions they ask bring
answers, however, who they are
becomes less important to us than
what they bring to the story.
A bare-bones set by Shawn Ker-
win, who also did costumes, is
given an ethereal look with the
addition of gauzy draperies, a hint
Atwood Lions
Bingo
every Thursday
Doors open 6:30 p.m.
Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Jackpot $1,000.
on 54 calls
Pot of Gold $1,000.
on 53 calls
of ghostly memories and soft femi-
ninity.
Anyone preferring their theatre to
have a straight-forward beginning,
middle and end, may be a little
overwhelmed by this production's
approach. But hidden between the
transitions in.time are messages to
discover and ponder. Even the
play's humour, and it is very
funny, sneaks up on you.
With bridge as analogy and rea-
son Thirteen Hands shows what it's
like to be a woman. While it may
appeal more to females, men, if
nothing else, may be surprised by
what they learn from it.
And its subtleties guarantee you
will probably continue to perceive
some of its ideas long after you
leave the theatre.
LISTOWEL 291-3070
STARTS FRIDAY
CINEMA 1 8 P.M. ONLY
SUNDAY MATINEE 2 EM.
ARMAGEDDON
BRUCE WILLIS
PG
CINEMA 2 7 PG
MADELINE
SUNDAY MATINEE 2 P.M.
9:00 SIX DAYS
SEVEN NIGHTS
HARRISON FORD,
ANNE HECHE
Help protect the environment
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Seta Dee
for
SANDRA BRIDGE
& DAVID SCARROW
Friday, August 7
at Brussels Arena
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Music by D.J.
For tickets call 887-6795
or 887-9757
Age of majority
t7S
for
BEN TERPSTRA &
SANDY RIJKHOFF
Elma Logan Arena, Monkton
Friday, August 21, 1998 9.1 a.m.
Music by "No Limit" D.J. Service
Lunch Provided $6.00 per person
For advance tickets
please call (519) 887-6875
Everyone Welcome
Diamond
Come Out
And Fly
The Katana
with our other students
LEARN TO FLY
For more info call
357-4999
Or
482-1709
rinlininninenElinT151nInninTITIMMIS 13 3
Buck n' Doeci3 13
C CI
C CI C for El
E u E Shawn Jacklin 3 c C 3 C & 3
C U CI Melissa Blake 3
u 3
E SAT., AUG. 15 3 3
El Brussels
a 1 13 3
3 13 Community Centre 3 E
El 9 pm - 1 am 3
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3 C Music by D.J. 3 13 C For tickets call 3 E 3 C 3 E Dave 887-6905 3 13 3
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El Julie 527-0403 3
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Buck e7' Doe
for
Sue Terpstra
& Jeff Earl
Friday, Aug. 7/98
Monkton Arena
8 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Music by DJ - Lunch Provided
Age of Majority
$6.00 per person
Tickets - 887-6401