The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2000-05-03, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2000. Theatre review Students do Grand job of 6Guys and Doll’s By Ashley Gropp Student writer A Musical Fable of Broadway, Guys and Dolls marks the end of a three-year experiment the Grand Theatre entered into with high school students of Middlesex County and London. The students have worked with staff and profes sionals to create the show, on stage and behind the scenes. The result is a show worthy of a great deal of praise. Attention has been paid to every detail—from blocking to stage design, choreogra phy to developing the actors’ New York accents. Guys and Dolls is a musical-com edy that tells the story of gamblers and entertainers who inhabited New York’s Times Square area. The era was the late 1940s to early 50s. The main players include Nathan Detroit, the man responsible for “the oldest established, permanently floating crap game in New York” that police officers are trying to close down. His fiancee of 14 years, Miss Adelaide, is a nightclub dancer who desperate ly wants Nathan to give up his crap game and become a civilized hus band. Sarah Brown is a conservative Salvation Army Missionary, set on saving the souls of New York sin ners. She has little luck until Sky Masterson, a visitor to New York, with a love of gambling, comes onto the scene. He makes a bet with Nathan that he can get '.he mission ary to go to Havana, and he suc ceeds. In the process, however he falls in love with her. Upon their return, they discover that the mission was used for a crap game and Sarah feels she’s been used. For the Grand Theatre production, the casting was wonderful. The leads all found their characters, and each had a voice well suited to his or her music. Adelaide (played by Angela Alcaidinho at some performances) was a particularly strong perform ance. Alcaidinho made Adelaide so incredibly adorable it was impossi ble not to love her. She belted out her songs, particularly Adelaide’s Lament and Sue Me with strength and emotion. She took every moment of humour in the Hot Box numbers, playing up the cutesiness of them. > Adelaide’s fiancee, Nathan (played by Aidan Desalaiz) was also strong. His presence on stage demanded the audiences attention, particularly in his apologetic singing to Adelaide in Sue Me, and during the Crap Shooters Dance. Sarah Brown (Natalie Teal) and Sky Masterson (Aaron Agulay) were played with confidence as well. Their chemistry was apparent, yet at times a little too subtle. Teal’s voice is a beautiful soprano that allowed emotion to flow through in her music. One of the highlights of the entire performance came from Teal, playing a drunken Sarah hitting on Sky in Havana. Nicely-Nicely Johnston (Jona than Wexler), Nathan’s right-hand man, .was well played. He made Sit Down, You 're Rocking the Boat the distracting good time it was intended to be. Another particularly good sec ondary character was Arvide Abernathy (Aaron Golden), a fellow missionary of Sarah’s who plays a father-figure type. Golden managed to suspend the audience’s belief, making it appear as though he really were 50 years older than he is. One of the most impressive parts of this production was the choreog raphy, done by Bob Ainslie, and the execution of it. The Oldest Established, and The Crap Shooter’s Dance, done by the Guys were incredible numbers, showcasing the more talented of the dancers. The Hot Box numbers, starring Adelaide and the Hot Box Dolls were also impressive, particularly the stripping number Take Back Your Mink. Set design was attractive. The opening scene in particular, which began with an impressive illusion of the Broadway street signs hovering out into the audience. Also of note was the sewer scene. The High School Project 2000’s Guys and Dolls is excellent enter tainment. The only real difference in this production and a professional one is the slightly baby-faced look of teenagers playing the roles of adults. Guys and Dolls runs at the Grand from May 3-6, with shows at 8 p.m. and an afternoon matinee on Saturday, May 6. New data base at Box Office For efficiency’s sake who wants to see Death of a Hired Man and who is coming to see Anne." The data base will be used to update the mailing list so they can start to target their marketing cam paign too, said Stewart. “It is more efficient use of our donor’s dollars.” In its freshman phase, the system’s total benefits have not yet been fully realized. “So far it appears the pro gram is unlimited. We haven’t been able right now to think of anything it can’t do,” said Stewart. As a matter of fact, she sees great potential in continuing to improve efficiency, eliminating some of the box office manager’s more menial tasks. “I think we will be finding Lesley (Epringham, box office man ager) much more interesting things to do this winter,” Stewart said. piECHUM Pennies 1 2000 WHITECHURCH 2000 REUNION AUCTION Friday, May 19th Whitechurch Community Hall 7:00 PM Miscellaneous Items Donations gratefully received. For information contact 357-3480 or 357-2349 FRESH HORSES (Shania Twain and Garth Brooks Tributes) SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2000 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM at the Seaforth Arena Tickets: $12.50 in Advance $15.00 at the Door Age of Majority Only Lunch Provided" Sponsored by: Seaforth District Community Centre Q and Seaforth Minor Hockey Association The new data base at Blyth Festival Box Office promises to improve efficiehcy and customer service. Lesley Empringham, Box Office manager, loads information into one of the two computers in the office. <&> Medic Alert SPEAKS FOR YOU 1-8DO-668-1587 By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Efficiency and improved customer service. These two factors are the primary benefits of the new data base at Blyth Festival Box Office. General Manager Karen Stewart said the computers which were set up for training in February, have freed up time for box office staff. “It saves mega time in the office in fil ing and finding lost tickets.” Before the new program if a ticket was lost staff had to go through the tickets manually and record what was sold. “We couldn’t just re-issue a ticket because we didn’t know who had what.” The computer also has a seating plan. “We used to do a pinch test, guessing the number of seats sold and what they were. Now we know exactly who has purchased the tick ets and where they are seated.” That information also lets them get to know their patrons better. “We didn’t necessarily know who was new to the theatre before. Also, now we can see who’s interested in what. www.medicalert.ca Cruises Upto •Free i- ’Scratch & win Attend our cruise / T°wn Hall Exeter® f MdlHn, andsavean ’f additional $ioO„B I please. May 6 to 13 Carlson Wagonlit Ellison Travel has ___________of the YEAR! CARLSON WAGONLIT ELLISON TRAVEL EXETER 235-2000 www.ettravel.com/hotdeals 1-800-265-7022 Request for submissions Paintings must be received by the Museum (110 North Street, Goderich) no later than Monday, August 14, 2000. For information & regulations, contact Wendy Chan at the Huron County Museum HURON COUNTY MUSEUM The Huron County Museum will be hosting an Art Show August 18-October 8, 2000 Submitted work must be done in watercolour, oil or acrylic and the subject matter should have some relevance to Huron County. Artists must be seasonal or full-time residents of Huron County. WINNING*ENTRIES Will be given purchase awards of... s1000..JlST PRIZE J s800...2ND PRIZE s700...3RD PRIZE ■