Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Blyth Festival 2001, 2001-06-13, Page 42I i By Bonne Cropp Citi..'en staff If Canadian show business has an identity it's Gordon Pinsent. And if his work as a playwright has an identity it comes from his Newfoundland roots. "Newfoundland has been a well to draw from. No matter what style (the writing) the bottom layer comes from what is. as the title of a Roberton Davies' book says. Bred in the Bone." he says. "(Newfoundland) seems to be what I need." Pinsent was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland on July 12. 1930. His first step as an actor was at Theatre 77 in Winnipeg. Since then he has gone on to tremendous success in virtally all aspects of the industry. He is perhaps best remernbered from his ACTRA award winning role in the CBC series A Gift to Last, and from a decade earlier as the lead character in the notable television show, Quentin Durgens MP. With his impressive body of work. from acting, to directing, to writing, the diversely talented Pinsent has earned acclaim from coast to coast and on both sides of -the border. Now this summer, Blyth audiences have the opportunity to enjoy his talent as a playwright with the mainland premiere of his revamped Corner Green. The play has had two previous productions. Pinsent wrote it initially for a small group in his hometown of Grand Falls, Newfoundland with 11 people in mind. The second was a professional production in St. John's. "Since then I have finessed it to four characters so that I have arrived at the play I intended." He describes the play as a "whimsical mystery". "It's basically my nightmarish idea of what would happen if my career or anyone's life came to a shuddering halt." The story tells of a man who lost his Jove 50 years earlier and of the old hag who stops him from succeeding in discovering what happened so he is left to "linger his Corner Green life away". Pinsent explains. The east coast is rich in folklore and for that reason Pinsent agrees that the "creature" might have more familiarity with Newfoundlanders than mainlanders. "But really there is a hag in all of us stopping us from realizing our dreams." When approached by Blyth's Artistic Director Anne Chislett about having the play mounted in Blyth, Pinsent says he "jumped at the chance." His John and the Missus gift& felt att Vccactiatto, Unique Collection Of Pottery Bridal Registry Just Arrived: 2002 Calendars 254 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 (519) 357-2993 said. In the show an elderly man faces a demon called the Hagge, a woman who is the main character's dreams 'and nightmares all rolled into one, Belshaw said. The man is the type of character that the audience will all know and can identify with, Belshaw said. Belshaw thinks Corner Green is the type of play that will leave the audience laughing and crying. It's a story about memory and long lost love, Belshaw said. The challenge in directing the show will be to find the tine line between emotion and comedy, she said. The show is set in Newfoundland, but it is a story that applies everywhere. • "It's not a down home Newfie comedy," Belshaw said. The play stars The husband and wife team of Michael and Susan Hogan, a well known pair of Canadian actors. The two generate some type of magic when they are on stage, the same type of magic that will he needed in Corner Green, Belshaw said. Belshaw, who directed Anne last summer at Blyth has been coming to Blyth regularly since 1980. It's a Diana Belshaw remembers when she worked with Gordon Pinsent on a movie near Owen Sound in 1982. "It's like working with your hero," Belshaw said. In the CBC movie Belshaw played Pinsent's wife. This summer Belshaw directs Pinsent's script, Corner Green, a play about an old man and the figure who haunts him. "I'm thrilled to be working on a play by Gordon," Belshaw said in a phone interview from Toronto. Corner Green is a very powerful play, Belshaw said. Anyone who has seen the play was just knocked over b,/ the humour . and story, she said. - Diana Belshaw has been ."It has a hilarious, raunchy, coming to Blyth since 1980. wonderful life energy," Belshaw resume, Pinsent downplays any suggestion that he is an exception. Noting that he has three new screenplays he would like to see produced, Pinsent says, "It's far better to have a huge collection of work, so there's always something ready to go. In that sense I guess I am prolific. Like a painter I have tried to get as many impressions done of my life as possible. I've got to keep writin2." Get the Prudential Team working for you! *„„ Prudential A; Heartland Realty y Serving your residential, commercial, recreational and agricultural real estate needs Call toll-free 1-888-482-3400 or visit our website www.phr.on.ca Clinton Wingham Goderich Exeter 482-3400 357-2400 524-6789 235-3330 Win .9ham, Ont. NOG 2*I0 ,f).Ark,,more (519) 357-4390 55 Josephine St. "Samething gay. Euewatte" • Create Your Own Gift Basket • Blue Mountain Greeting Cards • Mill Creek Chocolates • Crabtree & Evelyn • Prints • Candles • All Occasion Giftware • And much, much more Wingham Shopping Plaza, Wingham 357-4390 PAGE 18. BLYTH FESTIVAL SALUTE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2001. Pinsent keeps returning to his Newfoundland roots enjoyed a successful run at the Festival some two decades ago. "There is something about the makeup of the theatre in Blyth that lets audiences stand back and appreciate new works." While the Festival prepared to mount Pinsent's play. the playwright became actor, completing work on The Shipping News, based on the award-winning book by Annie Prou I x. Pinsent says he was fortunate to get one of the main parts in a movie that boasts "a great cast", which includes Judy Densch and Kevin Spacey, and "wonderful director", Lasse Halstrom (Chocolat. What's Ewing Gilbert Grape). "He is just the best at creating an atmosphere." Such stellar company is nothing new for Pinsent who has worked with some degree of success south of the border as well. However, he says,. after spending the latter part of the 1960s and early 1970s in the United States, he came to. realize that nothing was being offered that would have furthered his work. "So I came back. I am barely remembered there," he says, adding that he was once approached by Richard Dreyfuss, however, who had remembered his portrayal of the president. "I rarely get a chance to appear in anything down there and I'm not interested. I have gotten to the stage in my life where I can be selective. I want to be involved in good work that means something to me." Considering his - impressive NX 'o PEOPLE MOVERS (2000 FORD WINDSTAR Lie 4 door, Spruce green with matching interior, V/6, auto, overdrive, air conditioning front and rear, auxiliary rear heaters, PW, PL, cruise, tilt, AM- FM cassette, lots, lots, mo-e, quad captain chairs, 31,000 km. ..,... $24,995y. (1998 FORD WINDSTAR GL WAG01%, Dark green with tan two-tone, V/6, auto, overdrive, air conditioning front and rear, auxiliary rear heater, P.W., P,L., cruise, tilt, AM/FM cassette, quad captain's chairs, more, more, more, 49,000 km. $17,995 /1998 FORD WINDSTAR GL WAGO Medium green with tan two-tone, V/6, auto, overdrive, air conditioning front and rear, auxiliary rear heater, P.W., Pi., cruise, tilt, AM-FM cassette, Northwood trim package, quad seating, lots of good options, 60,000 km original kms. $18,995y CARGO MOVERS r 1998 FORD F150 SUPERCAB -.'- Dark green with silver two-tone, V/6, auto, overdrive, air, cruise, tilt, AM/FM cassette, 40,000 original, one owner kms. $19 995:) .._ , ( 1998 FORD F150 PICKUP Dark green with silver two-tone, V6, automatic, overdrive, air, AM/FM cassette, 52,000 original, one \ owner kms. $16,995>, r-- 1998 FORD F150 PICKUP -- Medium blue with silver two-tone, V/6 engine, 5 speed manual, air, rear sliding window, bed liner, AM-FM cassette, 80,000 original, one owner kms. 15,995) ( 1999 FORD RANGER PICKUP •-• 3.0 Lt, V/6, auto overdrive, red with matching fibreglass cap., air, cruise, tilt, PW, PL, AM/FM with CD player, 32,000 original, one owner kms. 515,995 &Teri E-Mail: C(54:07eite D . bridge@scsinternet.com I BRIDGE MOTORS Website: BRIDGE MOTORS www.bridgemotors.com I - SERVICE SERVICE Bob Elliott Scott Bridge BRIDGE Hwy. 86 357-3460 MOTORS East, Wingham SALES Denis Wood Allan Bridg e Diana Belshaw directs `hero's/ play place that does the type of theatre Belshaw thinks is important. Over the winter she worked at Humber College where she is the co-ordinator of the performing arts program. This fall she directed a play that originated in Blyth, Mail Order Bride with the third year students at Humber.