HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Blyth Festival 2000, 2000-06-21, Page 31BLYTH FESTIVAL SALUTE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2000. PAGE 7.
Gilbert Blythe is a role that's hard to live up to
By Mark Nonkes
Freelance Writer
For 26-year-old Caleb Marshall,
who plays Gilbert Blythe in Anne, it
was a crush he had on a girl when he
was 14 that led him to work in
theatre.
"I had a crush on a girl and went
to see her in a cheesy Christmas
musical and I was blown away. I
couldn't sleep that night."
Marshall grew up in Fredericton,
New Brunswick and the next time
the group that produced the musical
put on a show, he was part of it.
"It was really a great learning
experience in terms of self
Jenn McCaw’s veterinary
career went by the boards
For Jenn McCaw, who appears in
Anne and When the Reaper Calls
this year, acting was not always the
career she had in mind growing up
on a hobby farm outside Fergus.
McCaw grew up with
a rabbit, who lived for
13 years, a collection of
bam cats, a black lab
and Clydesdales and
until age 16 aspired to
go to university to
become a vet.
“Once I found out
that vets actually have to
put down animals that
didn't sit well with me."
McCaw worked at
the theatre in Fergus
backstage and would do her
interpretation of a show while
working backstage.
“A couple of the older actors said
maybe you might want to do this
yourself.”
McCaw took drama at the
University of Guelph and then went
to George Brown College in Toronto
Jenn McCaw
Amanda Lewis: theatre
artist in a small town
confidence and stage presence and in
many ways in terms of work ethic."
He has always been passionate
about history. After the show
finished, Marshall, with the help of
his uncle, novelist David Adams
Richards, got a group of New
Brunswick authors to write plays
about the history of the area.
In 1992 Marshall moved to
Toronto and attended York
University.
Since finishing school Marshall
has worked on several theatre
productions including a World War I
story he directed and a two actor
version of Romeo and Juliet with his
fiancee.
to learn more about the theatre
world.
After school McCaw has
developed two shows with her
fiancee, Caleb Marshall who plays
Gilbert Blyth in Anne.
In Anne, McCaw plays
Josie Pye, who dislikes
Anne and wants to make
life miserable for her.
“I’m embracing my
inner nastiness,” she
jokes.
For McCaw being in
Blyth feels like being at
“acting camp”.
“One thing I appreciate
is the number of older
actors that I can work
with and watch."
Today, 10 years after McCaw
decided to forget about becoming a
vet, she keeps her love for animals
alive and has two “theatre cats" that
she takes wherever she moves.
“I think they want to be on the
stage but I just wouldn’t let them,”
she says. — MN
Caleb Marshall
In Blyth for his first time,
Marshall said he jumped at the
opportunity to come to the festival.
He’ll play, Gilbert Blythe, the
young man all the girls of Avonlea
pine over. Recently Marshall got a
call from his grandmother who told
him that at 16 she fell in love with
Gilbert Blythe.
“In many ways I’m not really
playing a character. I’m playing an
icon.”
Marshall said portraying Gilbert
Blyth Festival
2000
‘Anne’
Blythe is a dream but he is not going
to think about playing an icon but
trying to make the character real.
In Anne, Marshall works with his
fiancee, Jenn McCaw, who plays
Josie Pye.
PAY NO TAX
Storewide
June 22, 23 & 24
202 Josephine St., Wingham 357-3500
earthward^BOUND4*^ MIND BODY o SOUL
5 Organic Foods/Bulk
Supplements & Herbs
Sports Nutrition/Clothing
Books
Gluten-Free Products
Aromatherapy
Great Gift Ideas
Health & Beauty Products
Celiac & Crohn's discount
Free Local Delivery
across from the Post Office
40 East Street, Goderich
519-524-6651 after hours 524-8885
“I have to flirt with all these girls
with my girlfriend in the room, it’s a
little weird.”
Marshall will also appear in
numerous roles in Stolen Lives —
The Albert Walker Story.
i
i
Hometown
Owned &
Operated
Amanda Lewis, the assistant
director of Anne, is familiar with
being a theatre artist in a small town.
When Lewis moved to Perth,
Ontario she founded a children’s
drama workshop.
“When you live in Toronto and
you’re an actor, you’re a dime a
dozen. But when you go to a small
community and you have a skill
other people don’t necessarily have
there’s a time to start honing that.”
Lewis gets people in the theatre
industry to teach the workshops and
the youth get daily training in voice,
movement and improvisation.
There are two age groups, 10 to 13
years old and 14 to IS years old. At
the end of the workshops a final
production is mounted.
“It’s been quite a successful
program.”
After Anne opens Lewis will go
back to her home to Perth, where she
is producing a millennium project to
celebrate the town. The outdoor
production involves music, dance
and drama.
“I’ll be here, for opening and
opening night party and then I’ll
have to head back.”
Continued on Pg. 8
26 Great Seasons
Stop in Stop in Stop in Stop in Stop in Stop in Stop in Stop in Stop in
FLEA & FARMERS MARKET
7^ you. don't su vvknt ffn ove mny (vnvi it Ctdffcn
SDmzt'vkcri 'tn nnr 23,000 ytns s>f. frt. spArtt!
a*u£ hedl to-
Ute, UlyUt, tyeffUucd
WAY TO GO!
the Blylfr Ipp
100 Queen St., Blyth
523-9381
across from the
Blyth Festival theatre
Offers a full menu plus a
variety of daily specials
Our soups, salads and
desserts are fresh from
Carol's kitchen
Open Mon. - Sat.
11:30 a.m. - Midnight
• Antiques & Collectibles • New & Used Furniture
• Toys • Gifts • Novelties • Crafts • Books • Clothing
• Tools • Building Materials & Much More •
across the street
from the Blyth Festival
110 Queen St., N.
Blyth 523-4700
OPEN DAILY: Victoria
Day to Labour Day
off-season:
Open Sat. & Sun.
Mon.-Fri. by chance
or appointment
Located north of Goderich on Hwy. 21
(2 km. north of Point Farms Prov. Park)
On Site
Homemade
baking &
preserves
We buy, sell & trade
Single & Job Lots
Vendor Enquiries
Welcome
Market: (519) 524-1740
Office/Fax: (519) 524-8092
www.lakesidefleamarket.com
Check out our newly opened 2300 sq. ft. furniture gallery
S
t
o
p
i
n
S
t
o
p
i
n
S
t
o
p
i
n
S
t
o
p
i
n
S
t
o
p
i
n
S
t
o
p
i
n
S
t
o
p
i
n
S
t
o
p
i
n
S
t
o
p
i
n