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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Blyth Festival 2001, 2001-06-13, Page 30The Outdoor Donnellys ors solid Oak Pine FURNITURE eatitytattliati041A an, the opening af yam 27th Sedan 33(tith JeAtivat! While in the area visit our factory outlet showroom and save $ on pedestal tables, chairs, hutches, entertainment centres and bedroom suites. If you're looking for a special size we will make a custom order. Located hi* west of Moleswotth on Highway #86 R.R.'#2 Wroxiter Phone (519) 335-3228 Fax (519) 335-3442 Open Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday - 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call for evening appointments PAGE 6. BLYTH FESTIVAL SALUTE, WEDNESDAY. JUNE 13, 2001. Gil Garratt accordion man in The Outdoor Donnellys By Mark Nonkes Citizen staff In The Outdoor Donnellys expect to see an accordion strapped to actor Gil Garratt's chest. The show features original music from various instruments including Garratt's accordion, which he took up over the winter. "It's just amazing some of the sounds that you can get out of if," Garratt said. Garratt, who always seems like he is deep thought. has been working on the Donnelly show, on and off, since January. "Delving into the world of the Donnellys. it's a pretty amazing history,- he said. For some of his research into the show Garratt travelled to the Donnelly homestead near Lucan. He found it very disturbing. Garratt said when the Donnellys were murdered and their house burnt down, their neighbours. who lived about 20 meters away, said they saw nothing. But when Garratt visited the site his jaw dropped. "Looking at the house 'there was just this incredible feeling of 'oh my God' there is no way they didn't see," Garratt said. In the show Garratt plays Robert By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Victoria Wallace has designed sets for Blyth before. But never in her 15-year career has she been given the opportunity for such unlimited creativity as with this season's The Outdoor Donnellvs, a collective conceived by Paul Thompson. The play, which opens Friday, June 15 takes place outside, moving through six venues before the "main stage" performance. Some. 40 "extras" are involved in the vignettes, while there are nine actors in the main production, which is held at the Thresher barn at the Blyth fairgrounds. With such a large cast Wallace. who has previously worked on This Year Next Year, Fireworks, and Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, at Blyth needed plenty of costumes. "There are no limits." "Because of the numbers involved, the work has been in trying to see that everyone participating in the show looks right." Designing an outdoor set has been an experience for Wallace. "It's really refreshing because you don't have to design for the stage. There is unlimited space and no sight lines to deal with. It's freer." Wallace visited Blyth in February to photograph the locations where the six vignettes preceding the main stage production will take place. Audience members choose three to see before the main show begins at 8 pAn. One is a blacksmith shop to be staged in a local Blyth garage. "There will be real steam, real fire. A lot of the ambiance you actually shoot for in theatre we will achieve with this. It's great to be in places that are alive." A nighttime scene will play in the rutabaga factory. ."We're doing snow and there are set pieces in that production. There's a little log cabin and the audience will see inside and out." • The former Blyth Community Church of God on McConnell Street is where the trial scene takes place. "We are very much using what exists to make it a courtroom, with the addition of a witness stand and Donnelly. a man who could do anything if he set his mind to it. "He's a very tirey person," Garratt said. Garratt is returning to Blyth for his third season in a row. Aside from the. Donnellys he will also be -directing the Young Company show, Funny Faced Ogre. Gil Garratt: wading into worlds of Donnellys, ogres and freaks railings." -The lower hall at Blyth Memorial Hall is the setting for the preparations for the Ryder wedding. Out by the Arch on the Blyth Greenway, a"very theatrical piece" unfolds that recalls ghostly visions of a stagecoach and horses. The garden setting will be the scene for a series of love stories. Another interesting project for Wallace was the creation of a stagecoach that used a chassis from a Mennonite carriage maker and building the upper portion. The designer is particularly enjoying her work with the community volunteers. "Their energy has been wonderful." Such positives have helped make the work refreshing, says Wallace, a unique opportunity, rather than a challenging one. "Having all those elements going on as a designer adds interest." Though she admits with a smile that she was pleased some details fell In Funny Faced Ogre, Garratt is looking forward to working with the youth of the area and a newly translated Japanese play. The play is in a minimalist style with minimal costumes, props or sets. Last year he was in Death of the Hired Man and The Drawer Boy. The Donnellys' story is something that people continue to be attracted to, Garratt said. Around the same time: the Donnellys were killed a steam boat sunk at nearby London. The steam boat story is lost in history even though 200 people drowned in 10 feet of water. "For some reason we hold onto this story of the Donnellys instead." Garratt said. After the murders Robert Donnelly, who wasn't attacked in the mob murders, moved into Lucan and opened a hotel. He was a constant reminder of the evil Garratt said, of that night. "There he was in total defiance," Garratt said. Over the winter Garratt had a show produced at the Rhubarb! Festival in Toronto that he wrote in Blyth last summer. The show was called The Strange Wet Saga of the Disappedring Ballerina. For the show he built and designed Victoria Wallace: biggest show to the production staff. "There were some questions that arose, where I would just cover my ears." Admitting she was a hale reluctant in the beginning, Wallace says, "This is the first time I have worked on something like this. But I thought Paul and I would be a nice match. Now that I'm here, I'm very glad." the set, directed the play and in that show, but with circus freaks rehearsed it in his living room: anything is possible. "f guess f have some control issues," Garratt smiles. This winter Garratt did .a school tour of an Anne Chislett play. For the tour he had to wake up at 7 a.m.. something he is not used to. "I like to sleep in so it made it kind of hard," Garratt said. On the plus side, Garratt said, he was done be 3 p.m. everyday. Once again the 24-year-old Garratt is writing this summer, this time it's a story about circus freaks. No word yet on accordion music XII OE EN OE 1311 Sin OE 11111 OE ME ISM OE filly CM 2.2 wo at OM WIN PR, 13 WRI ass ai VE egi OD so gtv al.12 gm a aro oil, *Er feat illietliea fa* a qteat Ifieat*e Seeman Woceek We carry a wonderful selection of e ladies' and children's wear — L t SUPER BRAND NAMES . M. G O Eg gm sie Wig 0 ig we so .14 gall as ste a as A( ff r....-gia . .r. ANC -, "Friendly Service" .-, - "Come on in and try us on for size" We are the look you've been looking for Open 6 days a week and evenings before theatre Extended Sunday hours in the summer Queen St., Bl yth 523-9709 OCEI En ne :rla .00 .1g3 ;',E6C s3g3 ..n3 AI '!r,S En R', Bartliffs Bakery and Restaurant A tradition in Huron County since 1902 At Bartliff's we'll serve you • breakfast • lunch • and supper Choose from our daily specials or regular menu all reasonably priced Plus we offer: • homemade bread & buns • sweets & treats, from our bakery • Wedding cakes made to order Remember—when you buy Bartliffs you buy the best! Hours: Mon. - Sat. 6:00 a.m. - 7:30 p:m. Sun. 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. 46 Albert St. Clinton 482-9727 Designing sets and costumes for cast of 40 no problem for Victoria Wallace