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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-06-20, Page 19KEB TWIN CINEMA cAPITot, FR I. & SAT. 6:45 & 9:15 PM SUN. - THURS. 8 PM 7800-265-3438 .FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2001. PAGE 19. Entertainment& Leisure Theatre review `Donnellys' gets points for trying, but... By Mark Nonkes Citizen staff The best had already hatched by the time the Blyth Festival's season opener The Outdoor Donnellys main stage sh6w began. The production has generated so much interest it was already entirely sold out days before the premiere. The collective conceived by direc- tor Paul Thompson is broken into two halves, the vignettes and the main stage show and plays for four and a half hours. • The vignettes are small scenes around the town of Blyth while the main production is at the Threshers' grandstand. Audience members are delivered around Blyth on tractor-drawn wag- ons to wonderful locations for short pieces of theatre. There are seven different stories arid in one night the audience can see three scenes. Over 40 volunteer actors delivered four unforgettable scenes while the professional actors delivered three before the main stage show. Over two nights I saw four differ- ent stories, Love and Larceny at The Garage, Ghost Riders behind Hamm's Auto, The Abduction -of Maggie Thompson at the rutabaga factory and The Ryder Wedding in the basement of Memorial Hall. Love and Larceny is full of stories about romantic adventures, abduc- tions, anger and betrayals near Lucan. Several community mem- bers act out different happenings during the Donnellys' days with a musical underscore by Blyth-area resident John Battye Sr. The ghosts of the Donnellys visit the audience in Ghost Riders. A cast of mostly women tells the story of the fights the Donnellys endured before their deaths. It is wonderful- ly written by Janet Amos with rhyming verse said in unison by the actors and imaginatively- portrayed with masks and people as horses. The Abduction of Maggie Thompson is performed by the pro- fessional actors. It tells of the story of Maggie Thompson pining away for a Donnelly to come rescue her in her father's cabin. When they final- ly do she decides not to go. It is a fascinating set with real snow and a house where both the inside and out-., side is seen. The highlight of the entire evening, including the main stage show, comes from the Ryder Wedding. It is a show with a group of women preparing for the party at a wedding. The community actors in this shOw are brilliant. They prepare food, practise songs and dance with- in the show. It is a comical piece with serious undertones, simply the best of the night. After fantastic scenes in the vignettes, expectations were set high for the main stage show that hits just before nine. However, expectations failed to be met. It tells the entire Donnelly story over an hour and a half. The production is filled with origi- nal music, most composed by musi- cal director Anne Lederman, and plays the most influential role in the show. Guitars, violins, accordions and many other instruments all played by the actors provide a wonderful soundscape for the show. The singing by actress Kelly McIntosh is absolutely beautiful, as her voice can hit many ranges. Wonderful opening night improvi- sation was delivered by the talented Sean Dixon, as-he spoke directly to the audience as narrator, William Port. The most interesting moments in the main stage production come when the Donnellys have a stage coach war. Two actors, Eric Coates as William Donnelly and his arch rival Robert Kennedy, battle over passengers while turning a long stick, spinning like the spokes of a, wheel. It is a very visual moment` with music from some of the passen- gers and a battle of words between the two actors. Cappy Onn, Wes Berger, Gil Garratt, Gene Pyrz and Brendan Wall round out the cast. However, The Outdoor Donnellys is a show that jumps from one scene to another, with no real flow. In the end the dramatic conclusion of the Donnellys is lost as no real bonds were formed with the characters. As much as I applaud the Blyth Festival for their courage of trying a production completely outdoors, it doesn't work. The seating was cramped and uncomfortable and it was very easy to become distracted. Then there is the battle with Mother Nature. Due to the winds and heavy rains on opening night the show was moved into Shed 3 at the Blyth Fairgrounds. Most of the text was lost against the rain pounding on the steel roof. Though a adventurous eruievour, The Outdoor Donnellys climaxes before its time and doesn't live up to the expectations from the excellent pre-show vignettes. Through open fields Will Donnelly (Eric Coates) courts Maggie Thompson (Kelly McIntosh) in the Blyth Festival production of The Outdoor Donnellys. (O(f Broadway Photography) Theatre review `Sound of Music' score scores big with reviewer New love Cynthia Dale as Maria discov- ers first love with the dashing Captain Georg von Trapp, played by C. David Johnson, in the Stratford Festival pro- duction of The Sound of Music, which runs until Nov. 4. (courtesy photo) By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff I quite enjoyed the Stratford Festival's production of The Sound of Music. On the other hand, I can't imagine anyone not enjoying a Rogers and Hammerstein musical presented by a reputable theatre. As it is with any of the work created by this composer and lyricist, the music shines above the stars. Emotional, beautiful, fun, their songs have always been the sound of music. This is not to say that the actors aren't talented. The cast is as plenti- ful as the musical numbers and with not a disappointing note among them. From the beginning chorus of angelic voices at the abbey to the chorus of angels portraying the seven von Trapp children, the actors perform admirably. And while I may have missed the soaring purity of Julie Andrews in Cynthia Dale's title number, she soon proved herself a likeable Maria, the nun, turned governess whose enthusiasm steals the heart of the widowed patriarch, Captain von Trapp. Dale is at times very similar to Andrews in her portrayal, particular- ly in the moments of playfulness with the children, while at other times making the role her own. Dale, perhaps harking back to her time as a lawyer on television's Street Legal conveys feminine strength better than any. Her talents have made her a favourite of Festival goers as ' attested by the lengthy standing ovation. C. David Johnson is a gallant, ele- gant von Trapp. His subdued per- formance is an excellent contrast to the passionate Maria. The children, portrayed by Shannon Taylor, Jordan Dawe, Megan Barker, Adam Dolson, Lisa Manis, Alicia Thompson and Aislinn Paul are, as one expects, enchanting. Jeanne Lehman as the Mother Abbess is also noteworthy if for nothing else than her powerful deliv- ery of the stirring Climb Every Mountain. Directed by Kelly Robinson the story of this non-fictional Austrian family who fled their homeland rather than serve under the Nazis, flows as smoothly as Do-Re-Mi, with set changes barely noticed. SURROUND SOLND TEREO LISTOWEI, 291-3070 STARTS FRIDAY CINEMA I 7 & 9:15 P.M. PG DRIVEN SYLVESTER STALLONE CINEMA 2 7 & 9.15 P.M. AA ANGEL EkES JENNIFER LOPEZ While much of the set by Ruari Murchison was quite effective, I was rather nonplussed by the 'hills', adorning the stage's upper tier. Painted in shades of green, orange and yellow, and bearing a greater resemblance to waves than moun- tains, they would have been more in place as a backdrop for an elemen- tary school production. Overall, however, Stratford once again does not disappoint with this season's musical. If there are flaws it's a given that fans of musicals aren't going to see them. Whether or not you feel you've been subjected to Sound of Music ad nauseum, it is difficult to deny its musicality or its diversity. With moments of playfulness (Sixteen Going on Seventeen, Lonely Goatherd) interlaced with politically and emotionally charged scenes and songs, it is a reminder of music's ability to make it all better. You need. look no farther than the expression on von Trapp's face when he hears his children sing for the first time since his wife's death to believe that the sound of music is good for the soul.