HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-05-31, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2000. PAGE 19.
Entertainment jfc Leisure
Festival favourite steps into workboots
Taking the lead
Always a favourite with Blyth Festival audiences Eric Coates
is stepping into this year’s production of Paul Thompson’s
collective Death of a Hired Man, playing the part of Norman
the young farmer wrestling with the idea of buying a com
bine at the end of the threshing era. Coates is also directing
two Festival productions for this season.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
When it comes to Blyth Festival
.being the new kid on the block is an
unfamiliar feeling to Eric Coates.
But as the theatre prepares to
remount its popular collective Death
of a Hired Man, opening June 1, that
is ironically the situation for this
Festival favourite.
Death features most of last year’s
cast, all of whom contributed to the
script. Directed by Paul Thompson,
the collective requires the involve
ment of its cast in creating the plot
and developing the characters.
Just one of a few to come on board
this year as replacements for original
players, Coates, a six-season veteran
of Blyth is stepping into the work
boots of Norman, the male lead.
“I have worked on a collective so I
knew what to expect. 1 just wasn't
ready to be on the outside. It’s a
funny feeling.”
Coates says the bond formed by
last year’s cast as they worked
through the collective process is
strong. “It’s hard to articulate but
like going through a fire together
relationships are forged. I can be an
essential cog, but I’m smart enough
to know I can’t try to impose myself
into the original core group.”
On the other hand Coates was
looking forward to working on a col
lective “without the frustration of
creating a character.”
“Ironically now the problem is
there is this whole wealth of back
ground for Norman that I don’t
have.”
It helps that the woman he is play
ing opposite, Christine Brubacher, is
also new to the role, replacing Kelly
McIntosh who created the role of
Alma. Coates and Brubacher had
one half day of rehearsal before the
rest of the company. “We had a lot of
talk with Paul about the people and
what they were facing in terms of the
socio-economic and family politics.”
And while Coates admits that by
not being one of the play’s creators,
he may not get “quite to the root of
the character” he has a good under
standing of the family farm dynamic.
“So, I’m familiar with the choices
Norman makes.”
While stepping into the collective
brings its challenges, Coates credits
Thompson with making the work
easier. “Paul lets you dive in. The
scenes get reshaped but he never lets
pride get in the way of new discov
ery.”
For this reason, Coates expects
that .people who saw Death last sea
son will notice changes in Norman
and Alma beyond the physical.
While the lead characters’ story
remains essentially the same, Coates
says there is a different sensibility.
“Christine and I bring a new feeling
to the relationship right off the top."
For example, the love scene which
opened last year’s production gets a
more gradual introduction.
“Christine and I knew each other, but
coming into that in the beginning of
rehearsals can be a little awkward.
It’s the sort of thing to work towards
so we improvized a conversation
before. We do get to roll in the straw
but there’s a context for us to be
there. We are bringing some of our
rehearsal process into the scene.”
What the audience will think is
now all that remains. “It was intimi
dating to take over one of Jack’s
(Nicholsen) roles. We are very dif
ferent. The audience here has come
to associate me with friendly, mal
leable characters. My biggest chal
lenge will be to convince them this
isn’t Eric Coates, that guy they like,
that guy they know. This is
Norman.”
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LISTOWEL 291-3070
STARTS FRIDAY
CINEMA 1 7 & 9:15 aa
MISSION
IMPOSSIBLE
2
TOM CRUISE
Stappy, 80th
ffiiithday
fUad
June 7
Francis Coleman
Love, Barb, Jim,
Gerald, Sandra &
families
The imitator
Over 1,000 people attended the Brussels Lions Elimination
Draw on Saturday and were treated to performances by
Alan Jackson and the Backstreet Boys — well, at least by
the tribute bands. (Vicky Bremnerphoto)
CINEMA 2 7 & 9:15 PM
BIG
MOMMA’S
HOUSE
MARTIN LAWRENCE
You are invited to a
"Come & Go Tea”
in honour of
Gene Snell's
80th Birthday
Saturday, June 10
1:30 - 3 p.m.
at the home of
Alvin & Gene Snell
167 Westmoreland St., Blyth
75tA fBiittiday,
Saturday, June 3rd, 2000
The family of
Betty Finch
would like to invite you to a
Come & Go 75th Birthday Party
on Saturday, June 3rd from 1-4 p.m.
at Betty's home
51 McDonald Dr., Brussels
Best Wishes Only, please
PARK THEATRE
FRI. & SAT.
6:45 & 9:15 PM
SUN. - THURS.
8 PM
2nd
WEEK
VIOLENCE
FRI.-THURS.
JUNE
02 - 08
FRI. & SAT.
6:45 & 9:15 PM
SUN. - THURS.
8 PM
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