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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-06-07, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2000. PAGE 19. Entertainment Leisure Atwood Lions Bingo every Thursday Doors open 6:30 p.m. Starts at 7:00 p.m. Jackpot $500. on 54 calls Pot of Gold $500. on 59 calls Loonie Bin Toils of farm life David Petersen as Bull, left, and Eric Coates as Norman, work hard at moving sheaves during the Blyth Festival production of Death of a Hired Man. Warren Sulatycky (Jacob) climbs atop his thresher to speak with hired man Christopher Morris (Glenn). (Off Broadway photo) Theatre revi&iv ‘■Death’ revisits an era By Janice Becker Citizen staff With the thumping of the thresher and the rhythmic motion of the farm­ ers as they pitched the sheaves, it was easy to become mesmerized by the atmosphere. Having grown up on a farm, though years after the old threshers went out of style, I was reminded of the constant pounding of machinery and the whir of the engines as I watched this year’s production of Death of a Hired Man at the Blyth Festival. Anyone with harvest experience is sure to identify with the choking dust, sweat, toil and sore muscles which accompany the work. Though the actors were imitating the hard labour, the strain of the con­ stant motion was visible on their faces. Two new actors filled the roles of the lead characters in this remount­ ing of last year’s hit. Blyth favourite Eric Coates portrayed the younger son, Norman, while Christine Brubaker stepped in as his wife, Alma. The pair was nicely matched, easi­ ly projecting the image of a recently wed couple who had dreams of the future. However, it was those dreams that brought conflict to the family as sim­ ilar hopes had years before. David Peterson, who wonderfully played Norman’s older brother Bull, had once had visions of progress for the family farm, but he too became stuck in his time period as his father had before him. Bull’s strength, confidence and bullheadedness leap from the stage. As the father of Bull and Norman, Robert Nasmith captured the image of the elderly farmer with his speech, stance, walk and ideas. He was just like my grandfather. The camaraderie and combative­ ness of the threshing is something which is sure to bring back memo­ ries for those who once travelled from farm to farm working on a crew. Hired Man offers a glimpse into just one day on a family farm as they struggle with the increasing mecha­ nization of the mid-20th century. While the threshing and conversa­ tions were wonderful, the dream sequences of the second half, seemed somewhat out of place, though I suppose the monotony of the repeated motion did give thresh­ ers time to think of other things. However, I preferred the banter. The transformation of the theatre into a bam was expertly done, and 'when the thresher was pulled onto the stage, impromptu applause erupt­ ed. In the words of an 8-year-oId, “it was amazing”. Hired Man is a great season open­ er for the Festival and a good show for the entire family. Not only may it bring back memories for grandfa­ ther, but will give youngsters an opportunity to understand his life and hopefully provide a topic for conversation. For urbanites, it is a peek into another world, long since past. Hired Man runs until June 17. CRIME STOPPERS 1-800-222-TIPS capito^ KEB Still fast at 40! 25th on June 13th Pistol Love, your goddesses! 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 Come and help Bev Brown celebrate her 70th birthday Sunday, June 11, 2000 2-4 Open House (come and go) Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Turnberry Street N., Brussels Your presence will be your card & gift or if you wish, donations will be accepted for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) £8 Citi SfoMday Qad June 7 ‘£v,anci& (Zaleman Love, Barb, Jim, Gerald, Sandra & families 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 r TWIN CINEMA 1 1| SURROUND SOUND STEREO || LISTOWEL 291-3070 STARTS FRIDAY CINEMA 1 7 & 9:15 PM MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2 TOM CRUISE AA ™ 3 * i CINEMA 2 7 & 9:15 PM BIG MOMMA’S 1PG HOUSE MARTIN LAWRENCE From the Hit ‘N Misses