HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-08-23, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2000.
Festival tech crew takes firearms course
Working with firearms
Members of the Blyth Festival Theatre crew got some hands-on instruction from Blake Evans,
centre, a firearms instructor, in preparation for this season’s mounting of When the Reaper
Calls. Production Manager David James, left, and Sean Neville, head of sound, take a close
look at the weaponry.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
When actors handle guns and the
crew is responsible for the authentic
ity of the weapons, safety of all those
involved ;s paramount.
^Reaper’ gets extended run at Festival
Due to excellent advance ticket
sales, an extra week of thrills, chills
and laughs will be on stage at the
Blyth Festival. When the Reaper
Calls has been held over to include
additional evening performances
Sept. 6-9, with matinees on Sept. 7
and 9.
Falls host Jamboree
The annual Fiddling at the Falls
Jamboree is set for Saturday, Aug. 26
at Falls Reserve Conservation Area.
The jamboree provides visitors with
the chance to hear terrific live music
while relaxing along the scenic
Maitland River.
This year marks the 10th anniver
sary for the jamboree.
The musical hosts of the event are
the Gypsy Campers. The music
begins at 1 p.m. and will continue
throughout the afternoon in the day-
use area of the park. The day-use
area overlooks the Maitland River
and waterfalls.
The Gypsy Campers are inviting
local musicians to come and join in
the fun. The event attracts musicians
of all ages from across the Maitland
watershed and beyond. Musicians
interested in participating in the jam-
To ensure a comfort level for all in
the Blyth Festival production of
When the Reaper Calls, and to meet
federal regulations with regards to
gun handling, several members of
the cast and crew took advantage of
an opportunity to participate in a
When the Reaper Calls is Peter
Colley’s second play to appear on
stage at the Blyth Festival this sea
son. After the serious nature of
Stolen Lives: The Albert Walker
Story, When the Reaper Calls is a
light comic mystery about two cou
ples who retreat to a cottage for the
boree can register at the picnic pavil
ion.
The Fiddling at the Falls Jamboree
is free with regular park admission of
$7 per vehicle. Falls Reserve
Conservation Area features a conces
sion booth and refreshments will be
available on the site. Bring your lawn
chair and settle back to enjoy the tal
ents of area musicians.
Falls Reserve Conservation Area is
located just west of Benmiller on
County Rd. 31, only 10 minutes from
Goderich. The 192-hectare family
park features over 150 campsites, a
group camping area, hiking trails and
children's conservation activities all
in a beautiful natural setting.
For further information about
Fiddling at the Falls please contact
Nikki Snell at 519-524-6429 or I-
877-FALLSCA.
firearms safety course as they pre
pared for the remounting of the hit
show from last season.
Blake Evans, a firearms instructor,
was retained to take participants
through the course on how to handle
rifles. Not only did they learn about
weekend. The exciting story of the
long-time friends’ misunderstand
ings and misadventures had rave
reviews of its production in The
Garage Theatre last season and an
incredible audience response.
Tickets are $18.50 to $25 for
adults, $8 for youths under 16. For
more information contact the Blyth
Come Join
The Huron
County Cloggers!
Beginner, Intermediate &
Advanced Classes
starting
October 3,2000
at the
Seaforth & District
Community Centres
For more information
call Sherry McCall
at
527-1307
safe handling and ammunition, but
also various firearms actions, firing
techniques and procedures, regula
tions affecting owners of firearms,
safe storage, transport and handling
as well as the history of the weapons.
Evans said this course was for
non-restricted long arms, not hand
guns which are covered in another
\ course.
He also added that his course is
somewhat different from others
which can be taken to meet govern
ment mandated regulations. “I use a
broad selection of guns with a wide
variety of actions. The students are
well versed in the handling of guns.
They learn to read the data stamps
and about the risks and dangers of
the wrong data. “
The lessons are more than just
informative. The cast and crew had
to pass both written and practical
tests, A mark of 80 per cent must be
attained in the written portion to gain
approval to work with the rifles.
Much of the credit for setting up
the opportunity for the Blyth crew
and cast goes to apprentice stage
manager Jenn Jansen, said Evans. It
was her initiative which brought the
course to the village.
For those involved in Reaper, it
was essential that someone in the
show have the proper credentials to
handle the guns used, even though
they are replica and do not actually
fire.
Even with that, Jansen said it is
much easier to acquire the needed
guns and blanks if holding a licence.
“It is good for people in the indus
try (to have the training), said
Jansen, “as many will continue to
use it in other theatre endeavours.”
What inspired her to suggest the
course while working in Blyth,
Jansen said was that the work atmos
phere allowed time do take the
course, it was more affordable than
in other centres and Evans was will
ing to teach on weekends.
She also felt that the cast and crew
were more comfortable learning
about guns amongst a group of peo
ple they knew.
Evans was pleased with the
response and interest shown by the
theatre group as he and instructor-in
training Karen Mitchell led them
through the material.
Festival Box Office at 523-9300 or
toll free at 1-877-962-5984. When
the Reaper Calls is generously spon
sored by the New NX and the New
PL.
Please Recycle This Newspaper
Shinaido Ju Jutsu Kai Ju Jutsu
and Weapons Classes
Addressing Street defenses and Law Enforcement/Security needs
Membership by approved applications only.
Class size restricted (Excess on waiting list)
Classes Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:30 P.m. to 9:15 p.m.
$40 per person a month
Membership includes a comprehensive insurance package
Starting: September 5,2000
At: The County Club
(Beech St.. Clinton)
Memberships in World Ju Jutsu, Kubudo Federation
and Ontario Martial Arts Association
Instructor: Shihan P. Pat Bradley
5th Degree Black Belt
Phone: (5I9J 482-8965
So when the guns begin to fire dur
ing Reaper, audience members can
be assured a licenced firearms han
dler is involved in the process.
Graduation
Jennifer Stadelmann recently
graduated from the University
of Victoria with a Bachelor of
Science and a double major
in Biology and Environmental
Studies. After receiving her
degree Jennifer is currently
working in the environmental
field in Victoria, British
Columbia. Congratulations
Jennifer and best wishes.
Love, Mom, Dad and family.
Graduation
Doris Robinson
from Fanshawe
London on June
with degrees in
Service
Tracy Robinson, daughter of
Len and
graduated
College in
16, 2000
Developmental
Worker, Educational Assis
tant and Deaf Major (Sign
Language). Tracy is working
for the
Wingham
accepted
Assistant
Central Public School, Ethel
for September. Congratula
tions Tracy! We are very
proud of you. Love, Mom,
Dad, Mark and Tim.
summer at the
Pool and has
an Educational
position at Grey