HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-08-14, Page 23Contemplating farming's future
Janet Amos and Ted Johns as Rose and Aylmer Clark
return to the Blyth stage in Barnbozzled: He Won't Come in
From the Barn II. (Terry Manzo photo)
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2002. PAGE 23.
Entertainment
Theatre review
Leisure
Aylmer continues to delight Blyth audiences
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Aylmer is on a quest.
Ted Johns' reincarnation of farmer
Aylmer Clark in Blyth Festival's
Barnbozzled: He Won't Come in
From the Barn, Part II, is destined to
Once again the Blyth Festival
Young Company is presenting an
innovative and creative production,
beginning this Friday.
Free/Quincy is a collective, con-
ceived and directed by Gil Garratt, a
playwright, director, poet and visual
artist known to Blyth Festival audi-
ences.
This year's Young Company pro-
duction is based solely on the con-
cerns, queries and observations of
the 17 troupe members, all aged 13-
21. The youths come from across
Huron and Perth counties.
While several performances will
be held at The Garage Theatre in
Blyth, the troupe will perform at
Point Farms Provincial Park, Aug.'
18, Bayfield Town Hall, Aug. 19 and
the Goderich goal, Aug. 20.
The SIO tickets and information
be a hit.
Almost from the opening scene
where Aylmer is inducted into the
Farmers' Hall of Fame, Johns and
his castmates keep the audience
laughing. Not only is there general
humour about farm life and, of
course, politics, numerous refer-
regarding show times and locations
can be obtained by calling the Blyth
Festival box office at 523-9300.
Donations may also be made to the
Jeanette Harris Memorial Young
Company Fund.
ences are made to events drawn from
local newspapers.
For nearby residents, references to
such things as a bulldozed apple
orchard to make way for another hog
barn by Triple A Farms only adds to
the enjoyment of the play.
But how does old Aylmer, a farmer
who prefers walking his fields to
determine necessary nutrients rather
than using GPS (global positioning
system) of the modern farmers, get
tangled up with a corporate farmer, a
computer-entranced son and idealis-
tic daughter-in-law? He goes on a
quest.
Once inducted into the hall of
fame, Aylmer is told to look into the
whys and wherefores of modern
agriculture then choose a successor
to his "traditional" farming legacy
for which he is renowned. This sends
Aylmer in search of answers from
his extended family.
Johns is once again wonderful in
the roll of Aylmer, particularly when
he attempts to deal with his "artsy"
daughter-in-law Frieda and a com-
puter that is the "brains" of his son's
farming operation.
His portrayal of someone not
quite comfortable with technology,
but making the effort will probably
be recognized by many in the audi-
ence.
Caroline Gillis is a strong contrast
to both her somewhat out-of-date
father-in-law and her • overstressed
husband who is trying to make it in
the corporate world of farming. She
brings to life not only ecological
issues, but portrays the frazzled
nerves of a young wife with a
demanding infant perfectly.
Not only does her role as the other
voice in agricultural issues temper
her husband's enthusiasm for
expanding the farm operation, but
she also provides an an educational
air to the production. The serious
side of her concerns is strongly
expressed.
John Jarvis, nicely cast as
Aylmer's son Wayne, adeptly depicts
the struggles of a thirty-something
farmer caught between his father's
ideas of "small is better, the pull to
go corporate by converting the fami-
ly grain farm to a depository for
nutrients (manure) from ar.other
large hog operation and a wife who
just doesn't seem to understand.
Though her role is somewhat more
minor, Janet Amos is marvelous as
the slightly foggy Rose Clark.
Portraying a woman who has lived
through the difficult Depression
years and isolation of farm life, her
visions have now turned to learning
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STARTS FRIDAY
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THE BORNE
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to drive, a warm house and living in
town. Her conversations are hilari-
ously interspersed with quips of vis-
iting the Holy Land, much to
Aylmer's surprise.
Bob Nasmith as Anton, Frieda's
father, an immigrant from Europe,
runs the ever-expanding Triple A
hog operation. Nasmith is wonderful
as he promotes the benefits of the
large corporation, building with bor-
rowed money and convincing others
to invest.
However, the only portion of the
entire production that seemed a little
off for this reviewer was the appar-
ent nervous breakdown of Anton. It
is not clear why Anton appears to
repent for his evil ways, other than
earlier mentions of his "delicate
mental state" and visits to the hospi-
tal. Why does he go to Rose seeking
redemption while at the same time
suggesting the opening of a new
church named after him?
Maybe a second viewing would
make this point clearer.
And a second viewing would cer-
tainly not be out of the question. The
production is quick and lively under
the direction of Paul Thompson, well
known for his collective creations
and the original He Won't Come in
From the Barn.
The jokes come quickly and
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smoothly, with the ease of delivery
from quality actors.
Aside from the humans on stage,
two other performers draw oohs and
aahs from the audience. Carl and
Sissy, the calf ,nd piglet, are true
charmers. The calf's mild stubborn-
ness at times threatened to upstage
even Johns, but Johns' persistence
and a firm hand on the calf's back-
side, kept the production moving.
If the full house and standing ova-
tion on opening night are an indica-
tion, this is one show for which tick-
ets may be difficult to acquire.
Barnbozzled runs in repertoire until
Aug. 31.
BUCK & DOE
Michelle McNeil
Mike Dauphin
SATURDAY,
AUGUST 17, 2002
Brussels Community Centre
9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Music By DJ Age of Majority Only
Lunch Provided Tickets 55.00
FOR TICKETS,
CALL KF4ISTA 887-6303]
Young Company
mounts collective