HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-04-02, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2003. PAGE 23.
Entertainment fa Leisure
Locals host Japanese theatre troupe
the west coast, support and accom
modations were quickly secured.
The entire company of 20 actors
was billeted with nine area families.
As well as a meal offered by Patricia
Ham, who welcomed the troupe to
her home last Tuesday, Coates said
Vai Pethick and Janice Henry each
provided two meals for every
one.
Though there were some language
barriers (only four or five of the
troupe speak English), they didn’t
care, said Yoshihara. “They try. They
love to home stay. They have a
chance to communicate with peo
ple.”
There was one great reunion when
the company arrived. One of the
actors had billeted with Blyth’s
S heron Stadelmann two years ago
when in Blyth working on the
Donnellys and a Young Company
production. They are almost like
mother and daughter, said Yoshihara.
Though it is the first time in
Ontario for most of the actors,
Yoshihara said the troupe visited
Edmonton and Vancouver a couple
years ago.
When asked what he thought of
Blyth, Ontario and Canada,
Yoshihara said, “This house is huge,
the yard is huge, this country is huge.
(Ham lives in a converted school
house on an acre.)
He added that the minds of
Canadians are also huge, responding
well to the production.
“They are quite straight and hon
est,” he said.
Yoshihara said coming to Blyth
gave the troupe an opportunity to
relax. “It is like coming home.”
Though visiting the area in late
March when the flowers had yet to
bloom or trees to bud, Yoshihara and
company producer/director Show
Ryuzanji said the area was beautiful.
After a quick stop at Ham’s for
lunch, the troupe was back to Blyth
for rehearsals.
“They are incredibly disciplined,”
said Coates. “As well as all 20 being
actors, they are also all involved in
the technical aspects of the produc
tion.” //
In talking about the show,
Ryuzanji said that it would surprise
the audience, but teased when asked
to explain himself, saying only to
come and watch.
The production was a combination
of traditional kabuki theatre and
avant-garde, telling the story of a
family trying to root out one mad
person.
“It was amazing to have them
here,” said Mae Raynard, special
project co-ordinator for the Festival.
“They brought a little Japanese cul
ture to Huron County.”
Japanese friends
A theatrical relationship between Blyth Festival’s former
artistic director Anne Chislett and Yoshi Yoshihara, front
right, now of Japan’s Ryuzanji Company, brought the
troupe to the village recently for a performance of
Educating Mad Persons. (Janice Becker photo)
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
It is a relationship which has long
flourished and one which benefitted
Blyth and area residents March 28,
when the Ryuzanji Company took to
the stage.
Ryuzanji, a theatre troupe from
Japan, performed Educating Mad
Persons, as a fundraiser, at Blyth
Memorial Hall. The presentation
was one of just three stops in
Canada, the others being Toronto
and Vancouver.
The bond between the Ryuzanji
and Blyth companies started several
years ago when Yoshi Yoshihara
translated a play written by Anne
Chislett, said Blyth Festival Artistic
Director Eric Coates. “It was very
successful.”
When the Blyth community heard
that the company would be making a
short stop in the village for the one-
night-only show before heading to
Coffee House for
Cancer, April 11
Students of F.E. Madill
Secondary School are busily prepar
ing for the fifth annual Coffee
House for Cancer. This year’s event
will be held on April 11 at 7 p.m. in
gym 228.
Organizer Jessica Mann said in
addition to “great food and enter
tainment” there will be door prizes,
and a silent auction.
For the second year in a row there
will also be “Spare Hair”.
“This is when people with long
hair donate some for wigs for cancer
patients,” said Mann.
Tickets will be available at the
door. Cost is adult, $6; senior, $5
and children, $4. All proceeds are
donated to the Canadian Cancer
Society.
Festival, Inn join
for Just the Ticket
Canada’s renowned Blyth Festival
along with the Benmiller Inn and
Spa have joined forces this year in
the Just the Ticket partnership
formed with the assistance of OTMP
(Ontario Tourism Marketing
Partnership) and Theatre Ontario.
The Just the Ticket partnership
brings together 17 theatres and their
partners and offers getaway pack
ages to consumers in an easy-to-buy
format.
In 2002, over 2000 packaged cul
tural experiences were sold from this
exciting marketing alliance across
Ontario. The alliance provides con
sumers with professional Canadian
theatre productions, unique accom
modation along with regional travel
experiences.
This year 300,000 copies will be
distributed though the CAA publica
tions Leisureways and Journey.
Just the Ticket was very successful
for both Blyth Festival and
Benmiller Inn last season. A total of
97 packages were sold, valued at
over $28,000 making a significant
impact in Huron County.
To celebrate the partnership, the
Blyth Festival and Benmiller Inn and
Spa are hosting a Just tiie Ticket
Launch at Benmiller Inn on Tuesday,
April 15 at 3 p.m. The afternoon
social will allow travel writers,
guests, and the general public the
opportunity to experience the charm
BUCK & DOE
for
Pauline Blok
&
Tim McNaughton
Saturday April 12
9 pm - 1 am
Seaforth Community
Centre
Music by D.J.
Age Of Lunch
Majority Provided
Tickets $5.00
For more info call
519-527-1571
or
519-527-0064
37
Please Recycle
This Newspaper.
VISION PRODUCTIONS
- Written and Performed bv
THOMAS BAILEY
FRIDAY, APRIL 11 AND
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
8:00 p.m.
THE GARAGE THEATRE
Dinsley Street, Blyth
TICKETS $10.00
TUfat (Ac (fM.
For Reservations call: 523-9796
* Thematic Material *
of Benmiller Inn all over again, com
plete with the new renovations, cou
pled with a sneak peak at the 2003
Blyth Festival season highlighted by
new Artistic Director Eric Coates.
Visit
PITCH-IN CANADA
to find out how!
www.pitch-in.ca/green shopper.htm
Buck & Doe
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for
Mike Carriere &
Krissv Dilworth
Friday, April 18
Listowel
Agricultural Hall
9:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.
Tickets: Shawn 887-8557
Jason 482-3346
Lee 887-6678
Age of majority
Lunch provided
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